Faced with the important challenge related to the mental health of the population, in December 2021, a cooperation agreement was signed between the City Hall of Fortaleza and Vital Strategies Brasil, with support from the Cactus Institute, to carry out the Mental Health Panel project in Fortaleza. The initiative aims to give visibility, provide clear indicators and tools for action aimed at promoting the mental health of children and adolescents residing in the capital of Ceará.

After the application of an intersectoral methodology of Intelligence in Public Health and Epidemiology, the Mental Health Index (ISM) was constructed, which consists of a synthesis of indicators related to the subject of mental health for all age groups, with emphasis on children. – juvenile. The Mental Health Map was then constructed in order to present the spatial distribution of mental health indices by domain and general.

The map, which provides a picture of the municipality’s mental health based on intersectoriality and georeferencing, is the main resource available on the Fortaleza Mental Health Panel platform. The online tool proposes a dynamic visualization of the data, in addition to bringing various contents for consultation, such as a repository of good practices, information on the provision of mental health services, academic materials focused on the topic, details of the indicators used, among others.