WFMH Board Candidates for Election

2025-2027

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Candidate 1000 word statement

- Your relevant experience in mental health advocacy, education and awareness and your personal experience and perspective that you would bring to the WFMH.
I am a mental health professional (psychologist) with 38 years of experience working in various public hospitals in the City of Buenos Aires. Along with other colleagues, I co- founded the Argentine Mental Health Association (AASM), a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting mental health in Argentina, particularly the inclusion of patients in health services and the defense of their human rights. I currently serve as Treasurer of the AASM and am its Past President.
For 34 years, I also served as an Associate Professor of Mental Health in the Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Buenos Aires, teaching from 1988 until my retirement in 2022.
I would leverage my knowledge and experience to promote WFMH activities globally and introduce innovative fundraising initiatives to ensure patients and their families are able to actively participate in mental health programs.

- Why you are interested in serving on the Board of the WFMH?
I am interested in continuing to serve on the WFMH Board of Directors to contribute my experience in the field of mental health and to help the organization grow financially, scientifically, culturally, and academically. I aim to support WFMH in reaching more professionals, individuals with lived experience, and communities worldwide. As a member of the Women and Mental Health Section of the WFMH, I actively participate in all activities related to the Section, as well as in the organization of webinars.

- List other organizations and boards you have represented, including those of WFMH.

1. Regional Vice President for Latin America, WFMH (2023-present).
2. Corporate Secretary, WFMH (2021-2023)
3. Director at large, WFMH (2019-2021)
4. Life Member, WFMH (since April 2017)
5. Treasurer, Argentine Mental Health Association (2022-present)
6. Secretary General, Argentine Mental Health Association (AASM) (2019-2022).
7. President, Argentine Mental Health Association (AASM) (2016-2019).
8. Founder and Board Member, AASM (since 2004)
9. Member of the Advisory Council for Argentina, Global Alliance of Mental Health Advocates
10. Founder and Board Member, Argentine Association for the Study of Addictions and Problematic Drug Use (SAEA) (2016-present).

- Current type and length of WFMH membership

• Regional Vice President for Latin America from 2023 to present.
• Corporate Secretary of the World Federation for Mental Health (2021-2023)
• Director General of the World Federation for Mental Health (2019-2021)
• Life Member of the WFMH since 2017.

- Areas where you intend to contribute to the functioning and betterment of the WFMH (if you are or have been a WFMH Board Member, you must indicate any fulfilled contributions in these areas).
I am willing to contribute in any way I can. I have actively worked to increase WFMH’s visibility not only in Argentina but also across Latin America. Each year, in collaboration with the AASM, we organize a Regional Congress within the AASM National Congress in Buenos Aires to promote WFMH’s mission and raise funds, which are then transferred to the Federation.
I played a leading role in organizing the WFMH World Congress in Buenos Aires—the largest in WFMH history—which raised over USD 100,000. The event welcomed more than 6,000 delegates from 67 countries and featured thousands of scientific presentations and cultural activities daily in 23 simultaneous sessions

- How would you identify yourself – such as: Consumer, Family Member, Psychiatrists, MH professional, Administrator/Director of a mental health NGO, etc? Please list all that you believe you would use in your role as a WFMH Board Member.
I am a mental health professional (psychologist) with extensive experience across state agencies, academic institutions, and nonprofit organizations. My primary focus is on problematic substance use, pathological gambling, and behavioral addictions.
Since 1989, I have worked with patients experiencing these issues. Together with other professionals, I co-founded the first Day Hospital for patients with problematic substance use in a public hospital—Dr. Teodoro Álvarez General Acute Care Hospital—integrating these services into general healthcare and actively combating stigma and exclusion.
I have served as the Care Coordinator for the Addictions Sector and as Coordinator of the Outpatient Psychology Clinics at Álvarez Hospital.

- The specific skills that you wish to bring to WFMH.
I aim to foster the participation of diverse stakeholders, organizations, and service users, helping to position the WFMH as the world’s leading organization dedicated to mental health promotion, advocacy, and education.

- Willingness to participate in Board Meetings held at specific meeting sites, on conference calls and/or with email communication and are there any issues that would prevent you from being available for any of these meetings?
I am fully willing and able to participate in all Board meetings via teleconference, email, or in-person, as I have consistently done in the past. I have also attended all WFMH World Congresses since 2011.
I am deeply committed to continuing my work with the WFMH and contributing to its future growth, visibility, and impact at the global level.

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Candidate additional statement if provided

Based on my long-standing membership, active participation, and extensive experience in service to the WFMH, I believe that I am now prepared to assume the Presidency of the WFMH. I consider myself a proactive, practical, and solution-oriented person. In recent years, I have held positions within the Board, but I believe the time has come to take on a greater responsibility. Nevertheless, I would also be very useful in another position within the Board.

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Candidate CV

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