The two entities called on citizens to use the services of the “Take Care of Your Mental Health Contact Center,” an initiative promoted by First Lady Raquel Arbaje, and enforced by the Ministry of Public Health.

The ministry’s experts are reportedly who offering free initial psychological help for free, as well as information on the mental health care services available.

GANA and CONANI said adults should be aware of such emotions as anger, sadness, restlessness or a sense of solitude, as well as recurrent ideas of hurting oneself or mistreating others.

They urged individuals with these problems to seek immediate help and follow the recommendations given by health professionals.

They added there is a thin line that separates violent behavior from child abuse, and advocated laws to promote and raise awareness on the practice of positive parenting and the proscription of corporal punishment of infants and adolescents.

They specified that in the first semester of the current year, CONANI’s municipal and regional offices attended to 1.062 minors and adolescents who became victims of different forms of violence, be it psychological, physical, sexual or verbal.

Violence affects Dominican society as a whole, but its incidence over the younger population is particularly staggering.

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