What are we doing wrong?

By Carmen Sánchez

There is emotional harm in being informed about the violence in Mexico

It is impossible not to feel a deep pain and anguish when witnessing, through social networks and the media, the heartbreaking news that happen in our country. A few weeks ago, we experienced a wave of shocking cases that left us breathless: the attack on the minor Valentina Gilabert who was stabbed by another teenager; Lucio and Diana put their newborn baby in a bag and abandoned him in the street; the murder and sexual abuse of Tadeo at the hands of a doctor; the injustice experienced by Mafer Turrent when she was imprisoned for defending her children, and so goes an endless list. This news deeply shakes us, especially those of us who are mothers, fathers, aunts, nieces or close relatives of young people who are growing up in this society so marked by violence.

I ask myself, it worries me, it concerns me deeply, what are we doing wrong? Why are so many young lives cut short by such cruel and heartbreaking acts of violence? And what distresses me the most is that I have daughters, I have nieces, and these facts become a constant concern that I cannot ignore.

What needs to be done? I think the answer lies in an issue that we have been fighting for years to make visible: the lack of prevention and mental health care in our country. The health system must guarantee psychological care as a priority, providing free, timely and continuous access to all people, especially those who need it most: young people. They, the youth, are the future, but they are also the victims and perpetrators of violent acts. Without adequate attention to their emotional well-being, this sector of the population will continue to be trapped in a cycle of hopelessness and aggression.

How does the State act in the face of violence involving teenagers?Over the years, we have seen how violence has been on the rise. However, what is more alarming is that the government and politicians seem to be overwhelmed, or worse, indifferent to the magnitude of the problem. What good is the constant struggle of organizations, mothers and women who demand justice, if the same politicians obstruct access to justice and minimize the problem? It is another hard blow for those of us who are committed to fight and build a country where the safety and rights of all people are guaranteed.

Violence in Mexico is no longer an isolated news item but a daily reality that, far from diminishing, is advancing. Clandestine graves, femicides, murders and sexual assaults continue to occur while impunity continues to reign. The authorities still do not provide clear answers or effective solutions. They make us feel as if our denunciations were lies, they make us believe that violence is something we have to accept as normal.

How can we normalize the terror that is experienced on a daily basis, how can we continue to ignore the magnitude of what is happening? Violence is not only physical, but also emotional and psychological, and the news that floods social networks day after day becomes an unbearable emotional burden.

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