‘The policies say something else’: Psychiatric rehabilitation in Colombia, a necessity amid contradictory public policies

This study explores the implementation of community-based rehabilitation (CBR) for mental health in Colombia by examining the experiences and perspectives of key community actors involved in the mhGAP programme. Employing a qualitative design, the study analysed data from 63 participants, including...

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Main Authors: Felipe Agudelo-Hernández, Lina Cuadrado, Andrés Camilo Delgado-Reyes
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2025-12-01
Series:Global Public Health
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Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/17441692.2025.2541233
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author Felipe Agudelo-Hernández
Lina Cuadrado
Andrés Camilo Delgado-Reyes
author_facet Felipe Agudelo-Hernández
Lina Cuadrado
Andrés Camilo Delgado-Reyes
author_sort Felipe Agudelo-Hernández
collection DOAJ
description This study explores the implementation of community-based rehabilitation (CBR) for mental health in Colombia by examining the experiences and perspectives of key community actors involved in the mhGAP programme. Employing a qualitative design, the study analysed data from 63 participants, including community leaders, support group coordinators, and mental health focal points, across six departments in Colombia. The findings reveal systemic barriers such as gaps in rights-based approaches, insufficient financing, lack of continuity and intersectoral articulation in health services, and persistent stigma and discrimination. Addressing these challenges requires a paradigm shift emphasising intersectoral collaboration, sustainable financing, and human-rights-based care. The study underscores the need for a community-centred and economically reimagined approach to mental health policy, offering a roadmap for advancing equity, resilience, and recovery in low- and middle-income countries through an economically reimagined approach – one that prioritises long-term well-being over cost-efficiency and integrates sustainable public investment in community-based care.
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publishDate 2025-12-01
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series Global Public Health
spelling doaj-art-43038c547d1640c3ae3363a71e00a7052025-08-20T03:32:08ZengTaylor & Francis GroupGlobal Public Health1744-16921744-17062025-12-0120110.1080/17441692.2025.2541233‘The policies say something else’: Psychiatric rehabilitation in Colombia, a necessity amid contradictory public policiesFelipe Agudelo-Hernández0Lina Cuadrado1Andrés Camilo Delgado-Reyes2Dirección Territorial de Salud de Caldas, Centro Liborio, Caldas, ColombiaFacultad de Enfermería, Salud Mental Comunitaria, Universidad El Bosque, Bogotá, ColombiaUniversidad de Manizales, Manizales, ColombiaThis study explores the implementation of community-based rehabilitation (CBR) for mental health in Colombia by examining the experiences and perspectives of key community actors involved in the mhGAP programme. Employing a qualitative design, the study analysed data from 63 participants, including community leaders, support group coordinators, and mental health focal points, across six departments in Colombia. The findings reveal systemic barriers such as gaps in rights-based approaches, insufficient financing, lack of continuity and intersectoral articulation in health services, and persistent stigma and discrimination. Addressing these challenges requires a paradigm shift emphasising intersectoral collaboration, sustainable financing, and human-rights-based care. The study underscores the need for a community-centred and economically reimagined approach to mental health policy, offering a roadmap for advancing equity, resilience, and recovery in low- and middle-income countries through an economically reimagined approach – one that prioritises long-term well-being over cost-efficiency and integrates sustainable public investment in community-based care.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/17441692.2025.2541233Health policypsychiatric rehabilitationimplementation sciencehealth care qualityaccessevaluation
spellingShingle Felipe Agudelo-Hernández
Lina Cuadrado
Andrés Camilo Delgado-Reyes
‘The policies say something else’: Psychiatric rehabilitation in Colombia, a necessity amid contradictory public policies
Global Public Health
Health policy
psychiatric rehabilitation
implementation science
health care quality
access
evaluation
title ‘The policies say something else’: Psychiatric rehabilitation in Colombia, a necessity amid contradictory public policies
title_full ‘The policies say something else’: Psychiatric rehabilitation in Colombia, a necessity amid contradictory public policies
title_fullStr ‘The policies say something else’: Psychiatric rehabilitation in Colombia, a necessity amid contradictory public policies
title_full_unstemmed ‘The policies say something else’: Psychiatric rehabilitation in Colombia, a necessity amid contradictory public policies
title_short ‘The policies say something else’: Psychiatric rehabilitation in Colombia, a necessity amid contradictory public policies
title_sort the policies say something else psychiatric rehabilitation in colombia a necessity amid contradictory public policies
topic Health policy
psychiatric rehabilitation
implementation science
health care quality
access
evaluation
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/17441692.2025.2541233
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