Understanding the Context and Meaning of Depression and Anxiety for Women in Rural Guanajuato, Mexico: Recommendations for a Mental Health Support Group Intervention

Background/Purpose: Proyecto Puentes de Salud has a documented rate of  50% prevalence of depression among women in rural Mexico. Few  women seek help for reasons including a scarcity of local resources, stigma associated with depression, and the costs of obtaining therapy. Our intervention program, entitled “Mujeres en Solidaridad Apoyandose” (MESA), trained “promotoras” (lay health workers) from rural communities outside the city of San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico. These promotoras led small group sessions for women in their communities. The training curriculum focused on peer support, coping techniques, and mental health education.

Methods:  Researchers conducted a pre-post mixed methods evaluation using the DASS-21 (Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale) questionnaire to measure depression, anxiety, and stress, and in-depth qualitative interviews to better understand contextual factors. The progress of the support groups were monitored for six weeks post-training and placement of promotores,

Findings: Participants demonstrated significant decreases in levels of depression (p=0.0011), anxiety (p=0.0003), and stress symptoms (p=0.0004), as well as increased levels of social support. Further analysis of qualitative evaluation research will be presented.  

Implications: Support groups for women in rural Mexico may alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety. Public health organizations such as the DIF (Desarrollo Integral de Familia) throughout Mexico should consider implementing programs like MESA that train promotoras to facilitate these groups. The MESA curriculum may offer effective components that can be adapted for future mental health interventions that seek to address depression, anxiety, and stress.