Basic problems of the social agenda

When we analyze the current needs of the country’s social agenda, it is sometimes easy to feel overwhelmed by the complexity of the problems that surround us. Currently, issues of health, pensions, work and education occupy a great deal of the attention of those in politics, both those who exercise power and those who belong to the opposition.

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However, in the midst of this maze of challenges we face, there are two core issues on this social agenda that have not received the attention they deserve: hunger and mental health. Although it is frequently talked about, no clear strategy has been identified to address it and no responsible person or entity has been appointed.

According to Abaco, in Colombia there are currently 19.1 million people suffering from food shortages, and 22 million people are adopting coping strategies to feed themselves. This means they reduce the quality of their food, skip meals, or go into debt in order to put food on the table. In addition to the human impact generated when people feel hungry, malnutrition causes irreversible delays in children’s physical and cognitive development, which not only has important implications for public health, but also has significant negative consequences for a country’s economic development. The long-term. Studies show that an adult who suffers from chronic malnutrition in the first two years of life has a 14.6 lower IQ, 5 fewer years of education, and a 54% lower salary in adulthood than someone who did not suffer from it.

In contrast to hunger, mental health is an intangible problem, often stigmatized and underestimated. Typically, mental health problems develop in situations where there is a lot of despair and uncertainty, a lack of meaning in life or an excessive workload, and are manifested in difficulties in maintaining stable and deep relationships with others, coping with problems, tolerating frustration, and defining a life project. , among other aspects. Mental health is not a simple issue that should remain in the shadows. It is essential to the proper functioning of society, because ultimately it is what determines, in the words of the World Health Organization, whether people are “able to communicate, perform, face difficulties and thrive.”

Hunger and mental health problems have a negative impact on people’s ability to learn and the productivity of society’s workforce. Learning and working when you are hungry and without enough motivation is much more difficult. Moreover, they exacerbate cycles of poverty because those who suffer from them typically have less access to stable, well-paying jobs, as well as quality education. They also burden the health system by increasing the demand for medical care for conditions that in many cases could be prevented. Likewise, they can undermine social cohesion and generate tensions, by increasing feelings of injustice, inequality and poor well-being.

Hence the importance of moving the focus of the conversation and emphasizing these basic problems that determine people’s performance and their ability to face life’s challenges. If it is a question of prevention, there is no point in enabling education and employment opportunities, or improving health system care, if people’s stomachs are empty and their spirits are broken.

Juliana Mejia

(Read all of Giuliana Mejía’s columns in EL TIEMPO, here)