What is it and what do we do at HealthyMinds.org?

As director of the group of professionals in Health, Clinical Social Work, and Psychology Healthy Minds.org, my interest is to promote an innovative program where advanced clinical social work is integrated to promote the integration of the social and health field, an innovative program in the processes of the institutions, and of the communities where we operate. We currently offer online mental health services, psychotherapy, we also offer psycho-educational workshops to individuals, couples and families in Puerto Rico, Florida, Texas, and we also have specialists in Mexico, Hawaii, Florida and Chile within our team. .

I come from the field of health, with a doctorate in medicine, done in Venezuela, and I have hospital experience in the field and clinical surgery and in Puerto Rico I did a master's degree in Clinical Social Work, and a Master's in Family Therapy, I am a service provider of Mental Health to Advantage patients, of a well-known medical plan in Puerto Rico and I currently exercise my private practice, I have held various positions in organizations such as the Women's Ombudsman, Director of Quality of services in a Medical group in Fajardo, university professor among others.

Integration of clinical-social services

My interest is to be able to develop an Integration and Family Health program, where the participants receive a biannual preventive clinical evaluation, and receive their individual and family psychotherapy services preventively or for the management of mental health conditions, in a space free of stigmas, free from criticism and with an inclusive environment, with social justice and respecting cultural diversity.

Carlina González Otero in 2015, made a report that added the following:

“The socio-health services, that is, the integration of health services and social services, are increasingly common in areas such as child development, care for young people at risk and the population at risk of exclusion or vulnerable. However, aspects such as the aging of the population, the change in the epidemiological profile, among other aspects, highlight the need to advance in this area, which must not only respond to social factors but also to clinical diagnoses”.

Three reasons why such service integration is necessary:

1. Accelerated aging of the population: According to data from the World Health Organization (WHO), the population over 60 years of age between 2000 and 2050 will go from 11% to almost 22% worldwide, so by 2050 there will be more than 2,000 million older adults. In other words, in the future there will be fewer children and more older adults that, although they reflect an increase in life expectancy, imply new challenges such as economic security in old age, the organization of health care systems and protection systems. social, especially those of family support.

2. Increase in chronic diseases: Although the burden of communicable diseases is still considerable, today chronic diseases are responsible for a greater number of deaths and more disability, especially in the adult and elderly population. In Latin America and the Caribbean, chronic non-communicable diseases cause almost 68% of mortality.

3. Increased cases of mental illnesses: Associated with chronic illnesses is the increase in cases of dementia or mental illnesses worldwide. In my private practice I visit about 15 foster homes and Mental Health homes licensed by the Department of the Family and by the Mental Health Services Administration, and the increase in cases of dementia and Alzheimer's disease can be observed, even at younger ages. In 2013 there were 44.4 million people with dementia, by 2030 it is expected to be 75.6 million and by 2050, 135.5 million, with a greater increase in Latin America where an increase of 100% is expected of the cases. This without forgetting that the risk of suffering from dementia increases with age, so the situation worsens if we take into account the accelerated aging of the population. Chronic conditions are long-term illnesses that require permanent attention and, in general, care and treatments other than curative ones.

Taking these factors into account, I dream of one day being able to see this comprehensive innovative program materialize with health services and therapeutic social services, aimed at individuals, couples and families where those social determinants that directly impact the health of the population can be analyzed. Latina and Hispanic whom we serve in the states listed above. They can also receive psychoeducation, preventive health screenings, cognitive reserve support for the elderly to prevent Alzheimer's.

A big hug!

Dra. Naylú N Martinez MD Msw

References and links:

· · Martinez, N. (January 16, 2022) Is the life of a teenager easy?.Blog mentesana https://www.mentessaludables.org/post/es-f%C3%A1cil-la-vida-para-un- Teen

· Gonzalez Acero, C. (November 30, 2015) 5 reasons why governments should integrate health systems and social services Blog GenteSaludable.https://blogs.iadb.org/salud/es/servicios-socio- toilets/