Against all odds, the mental health indicators of Argentines are
slightly better
than a year ago.
This is stated by the
Survey of the psychological state of the Argentine population
, a study carried out by the Observatory of Applied Social Psychology (OPSA) of the
Faculty of Psychology of the University of Buenos Aires (UBA)
.
That in the midst of this
undeniable climate of altered states
it is difficult
believing that we are not
so bad
is an indication that the conclusions of this study must be broken down.
Strictly speaking, less positive.
The "mental" balance was geolocated in the main urban centers of the country at the end of 2023 and on a total of 3,141 cases, with gender parity.
The impact of the different crises on emotions was evaluated, as well as our management of this psychological discomfort, including the level of anxiety, depression and suicidal risk.
9.4% of Argentines are at risk of suffering from a mental disorder
, and this risk is significantly higher in those who are
younger
and perceive themselves to be from
low socioeconomic sectors
.
In the previous survey, which evaluated 2022, that figure rose to 12.27%.
Why is that indicator going down?
Were we very bad and are we stabilizing?
Or does this drop actually mean that the impact of the pandemic on mental health is diminishing?
The answers are not so closed.
"We expected to see the post-pandemic improvement in 2022 and it arrived very slightly during 2023 (which is reflected in this balance).
The previous data was very negative.
Regarding the previous report, we could say that the indicators
were slightly better, but not positive
," Martín Etchevers, Research Secretary of the Faculty of Psychology of the UBA and one of the authors of the study,
explains to
Clarín .
In the Observatory study of March 2020,
the risk percentage was 4.9%
, with a maximum of 12.51% during that year, the most acute phase of the pandemic.
So, the percentage of the current sample is similar to that of October of the first year of the mandatory coronavirus quarantine.
We do not recover the risk percentages prior to the pandemic.
"It is even closer to the highest score than to the lowest of said period. If we take the average, the current percentage is similar and a little higher:
9.3% risk throughout 2020 vs. 9.4% currently
," he says. Etchevers.
Although it may not sound like that, he says, "in the country there is a downward trend, which
we can value positively
."
If, very little by little, the emotional consequences of the pandemic are being left behind, one might think that we are filling that void with the psychological discomfort of the economic crisis.
That was also measured in this study.
In last year's assessment, 54.55% of those surveyed considered that they were going through a crisis, and 49.44% mentioned an economic crisis.
In the current survey,
45.5% consider themselves in some crisis
: it is more even.
49.44% mentioned going through a life crisis and 46.2%, an economic one.
This does not mean that the economic crisis had less impact on mental health last year than in 2022.
Because the report did not compare the same sample from one year to the next.
But experts do detail that an economic crisis
is more gradual in its psychological effect than a life or family crisis
.
"Logically, economic crises generate unrest, poverty and deteriorate people's quality of life. But, as with the pandemic,
the psychological effects are not immediate
, they take longer to manifest. We could see that during this year," he anticipates. Etchevers.
Cristian Garay, undersecretary of the Observatory and another of the authors of the research, makes a precise equivalence.
"In 2022 there were still people with the emotional impact of the pandemic, prolonged grief (in addition to confinement and all its emotional associations).
Now (around 2023) there is also more impact of the economic situation
," he says.
What is a vital crisis and why does it compete with an economic one?
"It is a crisis due to a change in stage. For example, beginning of adult life, or older adulthood, also marriage, or having children," describes the expert, and clarifies that, as it is an open question in the study, it does not It is well defined what exactly the participants were referring to.
Anxiety and depression
Younger respondents reported
higher levels of anxious symptoms
, and those who perceived themselves to be from low socioeconomic sectors presented significantly higher levels of anxiety than those who perceived themselves to be from medium and high socioeconomic sectors.
"Regarding the previous report,
we corroborate the associations between lower socioeconomic level, younger age and greater emotional distress
," summarizes Garay.
As in the previous measurement,
half of the people who need to go to a psychologist do not go and the cost is an obstacle
.
51.71% perceived that they need it and reported not having access.
As the research points out, people with fewer resources have
limited access to medical care, psychological therapy and medications
, which leaves any approach to the treatment of mental health problems in the background.
As for suicidal risk, in the most extreme cases, which often (not always, it is not linear) are anxiety, depression or problematic substance use as a prelude, it also increases among those who are younger and perceive themselves from lower socioeconomic sectors.
Among the
stressors that alter mental health
, we cannot ignore lack of sleep, one of the three pillars - as the experts point out in this note - of health and well-being, along with healthy eating and physical activity. .
45% of those surveyed presented
some sleep disturbance
(in 2022 it was 75.95%).
28.9% find it difficult to reconcile it, 29.6% have difficulty maintaining it, and 30% wake up earlier than they would like (the responses were not exclusive).
The factor they considered as the main contributor to the sleep problem was
worries and thoughts at night (48%)
.
Also in the Argentine bed, sexual life and its relationship with mental health were analyzed.
Regarding the level of satisfaction, 20.10% of the 3,141 participants said they were very satisfied, 21.50% somewhat satisfied, and
31.50% neither satisfied nor dissatisfied
, while 14.10% are somewhat dissatisfied and
12.90% very dissatisfied
.
And there, in part, we are "much" better.
In 2022, the percentage of those who were neither satisfied nor dissatisfied amounted to 37.62%, and the percentage of very dissatisfied was 14.34%.
Where to look for help
In the City, the
Mental Health Respond line 0800-333-1665
operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
At the national level, the Free Mental Health Line 0800-999-0091
has been active since September .
ACE