An initiative was presented in the State Congress to include the State Institute of Mental Health within the State System to Prevent, Address, Sanction, and Eradicate Violence Against Women, guaranteeing immediate and specialized psychological care for all women who are victims of violence.
“Violence leaves visible scars and invisible ones. Emotional wounds require professional attention and empathetic support,” argued State Representative Verónica González Olguín when presenting the proposed reforms to the Law for Women for a Life Without Violence.
In this regard, she explained that the proposal also seeks to design psychoeducational campaigns on gender violence, emotional health, and positive masculinities; promote inter-institutional training for the early detection of psychological and emotional violence; and strengthen coordination with justice and health institutions.
González Olguín emphasized that strengthening the mental health of women who are victims of violence is a matter of humanity, not politics. “Violence not only strikes bodies, it also breaks souls, and as a state, we have the responsibility to help rebuild them,” she stated.
She noted that Durango has had a Mental Health Law since 2022, which recognizes this right as an obligation of the State. This law led to the creation of the Mental Health Institute, responsible for promoting, preventing, treating, and rehabilitating mental health services with a scientific and humanistic approach.
She emphasized that this Institute not only serves people in vulnerable situations but also works on their social and professional reintegration, with the goal of helping them rebuild their lives with dignity. “It’s not just about healing, but about regaining the ability to live fully,” she stated.
However, the legislator warned that significant gaps remain in specialized psychological care for women who have suffered physical, sexual, or emotional violence, as current legislation does not clearly integrate the Mental Health Institute’s role in these processes.
Source: elsiglodedurngo
