Building Peace through Mental Health: 4 Insights from the SanaMente Program
By: Mario Chavez, Research and Development Manager at Glasswing International & Fabiola Rubio, Research Specialist at Glasswing International
Introduction: A mental health approach to peacebuilding
Every day, millions of people in Latin America wake up uncertain about their safety or that of their loved ones. The region remains one of the most violent in the world, with over 117,000 murders reported in 2023 alone, according to Insight Crime (Manjarrés J & Newton C, 2024). This widespread violence not only threatens physical security but also takes a profound toll on the mental health of individuals and communities.
Rosa, a nurse in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, faces the daily struggles of working in a high-risk environment. At work, she confronts the consequences of violence daily-treating gunshot wounds, domestic abuse victims, and mental health crises. At home, she worries about her family’s safety in a crime-filled city. These challenges-both professional and personal- leave her dealing with constant stress and exhaustion. Rosa shared:
I come to work to help others, but sometimes I feel like I’m the one who needs help.
Anxiety, insomnia, and physical health issues are common among her colleagues, compounded by the relentless stress and exposure to violence in high-risk environments (PAHO, 2018). Mental health challenges like depression and anxiety are widespread, fueled by these conditions. Across Latin America, mental, neurological, and substance-use disorders now account for 10.5% of the global disease (Kohn et al., 2018).
To address these challenges, SanaMente, a mental health program by Glasswing International, is supporting over 100,000 frontline workers in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras — including educators, healthcare professionals, and law enforcement officers. The program helps them understand and manage the effects of stress and trauma on themselves and the communities they serve, providing tools for improved emotional regulation. By building resilience, participants enhance their own well-being while becoming agents of change, fostering healing and promoting peace within their communities.
This article, drawing on program evaluations and participant testimonials, highlights four key ways trauma-informed care is building peace through mental-health. By recognizing, understanding, and addressing the effects of trauma, this framework creates safe, empowering, and healing environments for those impacted by chronic violence, transforming individual resilience and promoting peace in affected communities.
- From stress awareness to emotional management
For many SanaMente participants like Rosa, trauma and stress had become invisible burdens. Before taking part in SanaMente, nearly half (49%) of participants were unaware of the ways in which stress affected their daily lives. Post-training, this number rose significantly, with 95% of participants reporting a heightened awareness of how stress manifests both physically and emotionally.
One healthcare worker from Honduras said:
I was unaware of [trauma-informed care]. These are things we have experienced, but we haven’t paid attention to them or been guided on how to handle the situations. I believe that now, those who didn’t know about this are more aware that we need to keep pausing amidst all these situations we go through because if we don’t pause, we will end up hurting ourselves.
This shift in awareness not only transforms the individual experience but also creates a ripple effect, improving the emotional health of families, workplaces, and entire communities.
Participants in the program have learned and embraced practical self-care techniques such as mindfulness and deep breathing. 96% of participants now apply these methods in moments of stress.
Takeaway: Raising awareness about stress and equipping individuals with practical emotional-regulation techniques significantly enhances their ability to manage stress, therefore reducing conflict. This dual approach not only improves personal well-being but also positively influences families and communities, fostering a more supportive and resilient environment.
2. Building empathy and strengthening social bonds
One of the most profound effects of trauma-informed approaches like SanaMente is the development of empathy, both for oneself and others. This empathy strengthens social cohesion, as participants begin to listen more deeply and provide emotional support to those around them.
A teacher from Guatemala reflected:
SanaMente has helped me to listen to [my students] a bit more, to have that availability of time, because sometimes with our own tasks, we limit ourselves a bit. I believe that the program also raises our awareness about our role, that we need to help and support the young people who have certain traumas or problems in their lives.
This shift in perspective helps create stronger community ties, as participants feel more connected to and supportive of each other. Before training, only 7.3% of participants felt integrated into their communities; this figure increased to 44.5% post-training.
Takeaway: Empathy creates stronger social bonds, leading to more cohesive and supportive communities — essential in areas affected by violence.
3. Cultivating peace in the workplace
Trauma-informed training also has an important effect on workplace dynamics. 95% of participants reported an overall improvement in the workplace climate after the program. In particular, participants pointed to improved teamwork and the adoption of a shared language around thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.
A healthcare worker from El Salvador shared:
A colleague was indifferent to work, I talked to her; she had a major situation [regarding her child’s health]. We asked for psychological help and got it…. We saw her overwhelmed by her child and in a difficult financial situation, so we organized a fundraiser for her, supported her, put ourselves in her shoes, and in other situations, we supported each other to feel the burden lighter.
These improvements in empathy and conflict resolution are critical for maintaining a peaceful and productive work environment. By reducing impulsive reactions and focusing on collaboration, employees are better equipped to support each other, resulting in more effective service provision and healthier work environments. In high-stress sectors like healthcare and law enforcement, trauma-informed practices allow professionals to manage their stress while providing more compassionate care to others.
Takeaway: Trauma-informed practices improve workplace dynamics by fostering empathy, reducing conflict, and enhancing teamwork.
4. The power of trauma-informed ecosystems
The real potential of trauma-informed ecosystems lies in their ability to drive systemic change. When entire institutions, such as schools, healthcare facilities, and law-enforcement agencies, embrace trauma-informed care, the impact is multiplied. In regions plagued by violence, like the Northern Triangle of Central America, creating spaces where trauma is acknowledged and addressed can significantly reduce violence and promote healing.
A police officer from Guatemala said:
It helped me a lot to be tolerant, especially to understand that my mood doesn’t have to affect the other person. If I’m very upset right now, I still have to attend in the best way…. It really helped me with how to manage myself, because I consider myself a person with a strong character…. I learned to tolerate the fact that no one is to blame for my mood.
By integrating trauma-informed approaches into public institutions, communities become more cohesive, empathetic, and resilient. According to a teacher from Guatemala:
SanaMente has helped me to listen more and be available for those in need. We are more aware of the traumas that young people are facing, and we are better equipped to support them.
Takeaway: Trauma-informed ecosystems can transform institutions and empower communities to foster resilience.
Conclusion
Trauma-informed mental health tools are critical for peacebuilding, especially in regions affected by violence. In Latin America, where societal violence has left millions in cycles of trauma, these approaches are key to fostering healing and reducing conflict.
SanaMente’s success highlights how trauma-informed care can transform individuals, workplaces, and communities. By equipping people to manage stress and trauma, these interventions promote empathy, understanding, and resilience. Amid ongoing violence, trauma-informed care offers a path to healthier, more peaceful societies.
By addressing trauma’s emotional toll, participants enhance their well-being and become agents of change, supporting others and fostering resilience. This ripple effect gradually transforms communities into safer, more supportive environments.
Authors:
Peer-reviewed & Edited by:
Peer-reviewed & Edited by:
Peer-reviewed & Edited by:
Sources:
Kohn, R., Ali, A. A., Puac-Polanco, V., Figueroa, C., López-Soto, V., Morgan, K., Saldivia, S., & Vicente, B. (2018). Mental health in the Americas: an overview of the treatment gap. Revista Panamericana De Salud Pública, 42. https://doi.org/10.26633/rpsp.2018.165
Manjarrés, J., Newton, C., Manjarrés, J., & Newton, C. (2024, March 22). InSight Crime’s 2023 Homicide Round-Up. InSight Crime. https://insightcrime.org/news/insight-crime-2023-homicide-round-up/
PAHO. (2018). The Burden of Mental Disorders in the Region of the Americas, 2018. https://iris.paho.org/handle/10665.2/49578
Explore the work
Websites: Glasswing International
Socials: LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook
Ted Talk: Mental health care that disrupts cycles of violence
Cite this Article APA
Chavez, M. (14 February, 2024). Building peace through mental health: 4 insights from the SanaMente program. Retrieved (month date year) from (https://catalystnow.medium.com/building-peace-through-mental-health-4-insights-from-the-sanamente-program-6fcd7f9f9aac)
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official views or positions of Catalyst Now.
