Our fieldwork is being carried out in Ibagué, surrounding municipalities, and rural areas of the Tolima department, through a comprehensive approach that includes workshops, school-based support, and community engagement.
With the start of the academic year, the Mental Health Workshops 2025 also began—an ambitious project aimed at strengthening the psychosocial well-being of adolescents, families, and educational communities in Tolima. Led by a multidisciplinary team, the activities started in March and will continue throughout the year in Ibagué, other municipalities, and rural areas with limited access to mental health services.
The project includes various strategies for intervention and support, such as:
“Our goal is to reach not only adolescents but also their families and schools. We know emotional well-being is built through networks, which is why we work in coordination with teachers, counselors, and caregivers,” said one of the project coordinators.
This program has a strong territorial focus, with active presence in rural areas where psychological services are scarce or nonexistent. The aim is to close mental health care gaps, guarantee the right to emotional support, and prevent risk situations such as domestic violence, school dropout, or psychoactive substance use.
The work with communities is carried out through participatory methods using playful, educational, and culturally sensitive approaches. Additionally, we promote the creation of safe spaces for listening and emotional support that help strengthen collective resilience.
Through this effort, we hope to positively impact hundreds of adolescents, families, and education professionals, reaffirming our commitment to promoting mental health as a fundamental right and a public priority in the department’s agenda.
