Developing Comprehensive Community Mental Health Services in Developing Countries A Practical Application in Quito, Ecuador

Mental health services in resource-poor communities and countries presents a challenge. In one area of Quito, Ecuador, a community-based system is being developed. Area 14, which has a population of about 120,000-52 percent of which live below the poverty line-is a suburb of Quito. Through interviews and focal groups, community members themselves have identified the most pressing issues of mental health: domestic violence, alcohol and drug use, adolescent pregnancy, and emigration. With this information, 8 pilot programs have been proposed and will be implemented over a 5-year plan. Existing community resources and organizations have been identified and a mental health network has been formed with these organizations. The knowledge that is generated in the successes and difficulties with this project will be useful in helping to develop similar projects elsewhere in Ecuador and in other developing countries.