Carolina Coronel Compartiendo Desafios en Espacio 220

"Neither Silence Nor Taboo" Arrives in Nuevo Berlín: A Key Space for Youth Mental Health The "Neither Silence Nor Taboo" center, coordinated by Carolina Coronel, has arrived in Nuevo Berlín with a comprehensive program focused on prevention, promotion, and care in mental health. This initiative operates within the National Youth Institute (INJU) of the Ministry of Social Development (MIDES), in a cooperation agreement with UNICEF. Since 2025, the institution has worked directly with adolescents and young adults between the ages of 14 and 24. Free Resources and Democratized Access The center's main objective is to offer young people safe spaces to express themselves, participate in activities, and connect with their peers. It also provides a completely free psychotherapeutic support hotline, designed to address the long waiting times of the conventional healthcare system. To mitigate transportation difficulties and scheduling conflicts in the area, a key tool will be implemented: Virtual psychological support: Teenagers will be able to receive professional support through video calls or the Zoom platform, facilitating democratic access from anywhere in the region. This initiative responds to a request made by the Inter-institutional Committee at Espacio 2020. It strengthens the community ties already established last year through a photography workshop at the local high school. Workshop series for families and adults: Addressing mental health also directly involves the adult world. For this reason, a discussion forum will begin this Thursday at 6:00 p.m. at Espacio 2020 and will continue for three consecutive Thursdays. Workshop Objective: To provide support tools for parenting, analyze the challenges of the current environment (such as exposure to social media and virtual relationships), and highlight the positive aspects of adolescence. Methodology: The sessions will be coordinated by a psychologist and a social worker from the center. No prior experience is required, and participation is open, although a registration form is available through local institutions. Strategic Partnerships: This activity is being carried out in coordination with the Municipality of Nuevo Berlín—with Hernán's support—and the local high school's administrative and technical team. The Importance of Intervention: Data from the latest National Youth Survey reveals concerning indicators, including the feeling of loneliness reported by the adolescents themselves. This project seeks to promote well-being and address this issue, replicating the excellent results and feedback already being obtained week after week at the sister center in Fray Bentos.