Helping Santiago Thrive Across the Lifespan

Why It Matters

By proving that task‑sharing can dramatically close mental‑health access gaps, Santiago offers a scalable solution that can reduce societal costs and improve wellbeing in cities worldwide.

Key Takeaways

• Public‑private partnership tackles Santiago’s mental‑health access gap for residents
• Task‑sharing trains non‑specialists to deliver evidence‑based care across municipalities
• Programs reached 2,700+ people, cutting access gap by 45%
• Youth interventions improved 80% clinical outcomes and community participation
• Scaling model could transform mental‑health services in other cities

Summary

Santiago, Chile’s bustling capital of over 7 million, faces a stark mental‑health crisis: roughly 80 % of those needing care lack access. Municipalities Providencia and Renca, together with the McKinsey Health Institute and CETA, have forged a public‑private partnership that leverages task‑sharing to extend services beyond the strained state system. The core of the initiative trains school counselors, nurse‑midwives and other frontline workers to deliver evidence‑based interventions for anxiety, depression, trauma and substance use. Two tailored models target adolescents in Renca and older adults in Providencia, delivering care where people live and work. Since February 2026, more than 2,700 individuals and their families have benefited, shrinking the access gap by up to 45 %. Results are striking: 80 % of participants in the youth program “Renca Conmigo” achieved clinical remission, and schools reported heightened community engagement. Older‑adult services reduced family caregiving costs, absenteeism and sick‑leave expenses, while provider confidence in handling complex cases rose markedly. The success demonstrates a replicable, cost‑effective blueprint for urban mental‑health delivery. Scaling the model could alleviate systemic gaps in other Latin‑American cities and beyond, delivering economic and social dividends for individuals, families, employers and governments.

Original Description

Cities concentrate people, services, and decision-makers. By 2050, nearly 70 percent of the global population will live in cities. That concentration makes them a powerful platform to advance health and economic outcomes globally.

Across Santiago, Chile, a quiet mental health crisis is unfolding—from anxious teens to isolated seniors. Healthy Santiago is rewriting the story, bringing care into everyday spaces through trusted community members, restoring connection, dignity, and hope—and proving that compassionate, scalable solutions can transform lives and strengthen entire communities.

Cities that treat health as foundational infrastructure—not just an expense—can unlock returns that compound for generations. The McKinsey Health Institute (MHI) estimates that immediately influenceable city-level interventions could add 20 to 25 billion years of healthier life globally—approximately five additional healthy years per person on average.

Learn more here: https://www.mckinsey.com/mhi/health-in-cities/scaling-mental-health-where-life-happens-helping-santiago-thrive-across-the-lifespan

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