Global Mental Health Policy

Alexis B King

Social Work Department, Roberts Wesleyan University

GSWK 6350: Mental Health Policy

Professor Kristine Consiglio LCSW-R

March 25th, 2024

 Costa Rica

● Small, comparable to the size of West Virginia

● The country's surreal biodiversity and natural landscapes makes it an everyday paradise.

● “Pura vida” or pure life is embedded into the culture.

● Costa Rica is ranked twelfth for Happiest Country in the world (Happiness of the Younger,

the Older, and Those in Between, 2024).

Healthcare system

● Costa Rica has Universal healthcare for everyone.

● Funded by Social Security Institution of Costa Rica (CCSS).

● Costa Rica considers healthcare to be a right for everyone, even those who cannot contribute to

the CCSS.

● The Universal healthcare system provides access to medication, healthcare and services including

“100% coverage for all medical procedures, appointments, hospital visits, and prescription drugs”

(Healthcare System in Costa Rica, 2024).

Medical Tourism

● Costa Rica often attracts retirees to the country with universal healthcare as an incentive.

● Costa Rica has also had an influx in medical tourism because of the system's affordability.
Levels of care

● 3 levels of care based on severity of ailment

● Level 1 encompasses basic mental health services and healthcare. Mental health care is

sparse in Costa Rica (COSTA RICA, 2008).

● There is private practice but it is in addition to regular care.

● Ticos have a right to care.

● Minimal mental health training for DRs and nurses

● (COSTA RICA, 2008)
● (COSTA RICA, 2008)
Access to mental health services

● There are 38 outpatient mental health facilities in the country. There are two day treatment facilities in

the entire country.

● In Costa Rica, “more than 80% of psychiatric beds in the country are located in or near the largest city.

Such a distribution of beds prevents access for rural users. Inequity of access to mental health services

for other minority users (e.g., linguistic, ethnic or religious minorities) is a moderate issue” that

continues to impact Ticos (COSTA RICA, 2008).

● Costa Rica's mental health system still needs reform.

● It is hard to indicate how prevalent the problem is due to lack of available research.
Costa Rica takes a proactive approach to MH
● Collectivist community
● Blue zones- Nicoya, Costa Rica
○ Life expectancy 84, compared to 77 in the United States (Nicoya, Costa Rica 2024)
○ Costa Ricans combat mental illness at its core by cultivating a country where people are
safe and loved.
○ Illnesses that are genetic are not compounded and exacerbated by stressors of a capitalistic
society.
○ (Nicoya, Costa Rica 2024)
SW & Costa Rica

● Due to Costa Rica being a collectivist society, people take care of each other as best they can.

● SW values part of society

● “Ticos find peace in their spirituality and family” (Quesada, 2024).

● Needs social workers

○ Lack of evidence based interventions being implemented and challenges the country to reform (Contreras et al, 2014).

○ Better manage symptoms

○ Social justice
References
Contreras, J., Raventós, H., Rodríguez, G., & Leandro, M. (2014). Call for a change in research funding priorities: the example of

mental health in Costa Rica. Revista panamericana de salud publica = Pan American journal of public health, 36(4), 266–269.

COSTA RICA. (2008). World Health Organization (WHO). Retrieved March 25, 2024, from

https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/mental-health/who-aims-country-reports/costa_rica_who_aims_report_english.pdf

?sfvrsn=96c3fab2_6&download=true

Happiness of the younger, the older, and those in between. (2024, March 20). The World Happiness Report. Retrieved March 25, 2024,

from

https://worldhappiness.report/ed/2024/happiness-of-the-younger-the-older-and-those-in-between/#ranking-of-happiness-2021-20

23

Healthcare System in Costa Rica. (2024). International Citizens Insurance. Retrieved March 25, 2024, from

https://www.internationalinsurance.com/health/systems/costa-rica.php

Nicoya, Costa Rica. (2024). Blue Zones. Retrieved March 25, 2024, from https://www.bluezones.com/explorations/nicoya-costa-rica/