DR1 Daily News - Dominican Republic

Minister of Public Health Víctor Atallah has announced a comprehensive national strategy to prioritize mental health, focusing on aggressive prevention campaigns, early detection, and a significant expansion of care infrastructure.

Speaking at an event commemorating World Depression Day on 13 January 2026, Atallah reaffirmed the government’s commitment to integrating mental health into the core of the national health system. He urged Dominican society to dismantle the stigma surrounding depression, characterizing it as a medical condition requiring urgent, integrated intervention.

“Depression must be identified and treated in every space: primary care, schools, workplaces, and communities,” Atallah stated. “Every day without care can exacerbate the condition.”

Vice Minister of Collective Health, Eladio Pérez, echoed this sentiment, stressing that depression...