"Social Dialogue": A Community-Based Approach to Adolescent Mental Health in Buenos Aires Secondary Schools

Background: Following the COVID-19 pandemic, rising levels of anxiety and depression were observed globally, with adolescents particularly affected. In Buenos Aires, as in many other cities, early detection of mental health issues and timely access to care became urgent priorities. Traditional health services, often reactive and clinical, faced challenges in reaching young people in their everyday environments. The “Diálogo Social” (Social Dialogue) program was created to bridge this gap, promoting early detection, prioritization, and access to mental health care for adolescents through a community-based model within secondary schools.

 

Approach: Since 2022, the Ministry of Health of the City of Buenos Aires has implemented “Diálogo Social” in public secondary schools. The program is structured around a four-session model:

-Co-construction session: health professionals and the school community jointly identify needs, expectations, and available resources.

-Two dialogue sessions with students: these sessions focus on open conversation, emotional literacy, and peer listening in a safe environment, facilitated by mental health professionals.

-Closing and feedback session: results and reflections are shared with school authorities and teachers to sustain local actions and strengthen referral pathways.

The initiative fosters collaboration between the health and education sectors, mobilizing local networks of psychologists, social workers, and educators to promote mental wellbeing from a preventive, participatory perspective.

 

Results: Since its launch, “Diálogo Social” has reached over 5,000 students in secondary schools across Buenos Aires. The program has generated meaningful dialogue within school communities, creating spaces of trust where students, teachers, and families can address mental health openly.

Early identification of high-risk cases has led to improved prioritization and referral into the city’s mental health system, ensuring timely therapeutic intervention. The initiative has also strengthened the role of schools as active partners in health promotion rather than passive recipients of external services.

 

Implications: “Diálogo Social” demonstrates that cultural change in how mental health is approached is both necessary and achievable. By embedding care within the community and promoting open dialogue, the program contributes to destigmatizing mental health issues and fostering collective responsibility. This experience provides a replicable model for other urban settings seeking to integrate mental health promotion into everyday institutions such as schools. For health leaders and policymakers, the key takeaway is that integrated, community-based strategies—grounded in collaboration, trust, and early engagement—can generate tangible health and social impact.