DR1 Daily News - Dominican Republic

Minister Victor Atallah / Presidency

In a major push to modernize the nation’s mental healthcare infrastructure, President Luis Abinader and Minister of Public Health Víctor Atallah unveiled a series of strategic advancements on Monday, 9 February 2026. The centerpiece of the announcement is the launch of 8-1-1, a new, simplified emergency hotline for free mental health assistance.

The new 8-1-1 number replaces the previous 10-digit line (809-200-1400) to provide citizens with more immediate access to psychological help. According to Minister Atallah, the service will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, providing confidential counseling, initial containment, and specialized referrals.

To support this expansion, the Ministry has reinforced its staff with more than 45 clinical psychologists. Early data indicates the high demand for such services: since...