[vc_section el_class="container mx-auto align-items-center circle--pattern" css=".vc_custom_1648956589196{padding-top: 3rem !important;}"][vc_row el_class="pb-5"][vc_column][vc_wp_custommenu nav_menu="6"][uoh_breadcrumb_component automatic_breadcrumb="true"][uoh_title_component title_dropdown="big" title_decorator="true"]{{title}}[/uoh_title_component][vc_column_text css=""]DISCA (Discapacidad y Ciudadanía) es un núcleo que desde 2022 está dedicado al estudio inter y transdisciplinario de los procesos y mecanismos a través de los cuales las personas con discapacidad (PcD) se transforman en ciudadanas. Su objetivo general es examinar críticamente cómo las PcD construyen y negocian su ciudadanía en los ámbitos de: L1. la participación política, L2. el acceso a la justicia y L3. el acceso a la salud mental. Cada uno de estos ámbitos será una línea de trabajo de DISCA en los tres años del proyecto. Una cuarta línea se centrará en el uso de metodologías inclusivas y participativas en investigación en discapacidad. Nuestro enfoque se basa en dos pilares. Primero, la ciudadanía como forma de integración social mediante la igual consideración de todos. Consideramos aspectos institucionales (derechos civiles, políticos y sociales) y relacionales (demandas de reconocimiento). Segundo, el modelo social de la discapacidad, que busca superar el enfoque biomédico y entiende la discapacidad como resultado de la interacción entre condiciones de salud o déficits individuales y barreras sociales que impiden la plena participación de las PcD. El modelo social no es la mirada predominante. Siguen vigentes visiones asistencialistas que restringen la inclusión y el ejercicio de la ciudadanía de las PcD. Es urgente que la academia cree sinergias, tanto con organizaciones de PcD como con las instituciones del Estado, para examinar las barreras que afectan a las PcD y las vías para su superación. La escasez de investigación en discapacidad en Chile, y la necesidad de incorporar a PcD en la generación de conocimiento, hace nuestro proyecto muy relevante. La incorporación de PcD en el mundo académico a través de DISCA es una valiosa oportunidad para realizar cambios que preparen el camino para una mayor participación de otras PcD. Esperamos que sus resultados generen políticas inclusivas y participativas en discapacidad. DISCA está dirigido por una PcD, cuenta con un consejo de Expertos por Experiencia (con 7 PcD) y observa los principios de la investigación inclusiva y participativa. Sus investigadores principales, pioneros en la investigación en discapacidad en Chile, utilizan metodologías mixtas, cuantitativas y cualitativas, integrando conocimientos de sociología, derecho, salud, economía, sociología y psicología en conjunto con el campo transdisciplinario de los estudios de la discapacidad. Los logros a corto plazo se dirigen a: i) producir investigación inter y transdisciplinaria en discapacidad, ii) consolidar redes de colaboración con otros centros de investigación en el mundo, iii) formar capital humano en varios niveles, incluyendo PcD en todo el quehacer de DISCA y iv) informar la política pública. La meta a mediano plazo es consolidar a DISCA como el primer centro de excelencia en investigación en discapacidad de Latinoamérica, contribuyendo al fortalecimiento de los estudios de la discapacidad en el mundo.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][/vc_section][vc_section css=".vc_custom_1649209804184{background-color: #f6faff !important;}" el_class="p-md-0 pt-md-5"][vc_row el_class="container mx-auto align-items-center p-md-0 pt-5"][vc_column el_class="p-0"][/vc_column][/vc_row][/vc_section][vc_section css=".vc_custom_1649210787516{background-color: #f6faff !important;}" el_class="p-md-0 pt-md-5 pb-md-5"][vc_row el_class="container mx-auto align-items-center"][vc_column][/vc_column][/vc_row][/vc_section]

[vc_section el_class="container mx-auto align-items-center circle--pattern" css=".vc_custom_1648956589196{padding-top: 3rem !important;}"][vc_row el_class="pb-5"][vc_column][vc_wp_custommenu nav_menu="6"][uoh_breadcrumb_component automatic_breadcrumb="true"][uoh_title_component title_dropdown="big" title_decorator="true"]{{title}}[/uoh_title_component][vc_column_text css=""]Es un centro de excelencia en salud mental[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][/vc_section][vc_section css=".vc_custom_1649209804184{background-color: #f6faff !important;}" el_class="p-md-0 pt-md-5"][vc_row el_class="container mx-auto align-items-center p-md-0 pt-5"][vc_column el_class="p-0"][/vc_column][/vc_row][/vc_section][vc_section css=".vc_custom_1649210787516{background-color: #f6faff !important;}" el_class="p-md-0 pt-md-5 pb-md-5"][vc_row el_class="container mx-auto align-items-center"][vc_column][/vc_column][/vc_row][/vc_section]

[vc_section el_class="container mx-auto align-items-center circle--pattern" css=".vc_custom_1648956589196{padding-top: 3rem !important;}"][vc_row el_class="pb-5"][vc_column][vc_wp_custommenu nav_menu="6"][uoh_breadcrumb_component automatic_breadcrumb="true"][uoh_title_component title_dropdown="big" title_decorator="true"]{{title}}[/uoh_title_component][vc_column_text css=""]Es un centro de excelencia en salud mental[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][/vc_section][vc_section css=".vc_custom_1649209804184{background-color: #f6faff !important;}" el_class="p-md-0 pt-md-5"][vc_row el_class="container mx-auto align-items-center p-md-0 pt-5"][vc_column el_class="p-0"][/vc_column][/vc_row][/vc_section][vc_section css=".vc_custom_1649210787516{background-color: #f6faff !important;}" el_class="p-md-0 pt-md-5 pb-md-5"][vc_row el_class="container mx-auto align-items-center"][vc_column][/vc_column][/vc_row][/vc_section]

[vc_section el_class="container mx-auto align-items-center circle--pattern" css=".vc_custom_1648956589196{padding-top: 3rem !important;}"][vc_row el_class="pb-5"][vc_column][vc_wp_custommenu nav_menu="6"][uoh_breadcrumb_component automatic_breadcrumb="true"][uoh_title_component title_dropdown="big" title_decorator="true"]{{title}}[/uoh_title_component][vc_column_text css=""]The proposed IINARA Research Center (Investigación e Innovación en Niñez, Adolescencia, Resiliencia y Adversidad) seeks to address the pressing challenge of adversity during childhood and their profound effects on children’s and adolescents’ development in Chile. By combining cutting-edge research with a strong focus on public policy, capacity building, and community collaboration, the Center aims to generate actionable evidence that fosters resilience and promotes well-being among vulnerable populations that could inform public policy making. The initiative aligns with national priorities, including equitable access to developmental resources, and seeks to build a foundation for sustainable social and economic progress. Adverse Childhood Experiences—ranging from abuse and neglect to socioeconomic adversity—have been linked to long-term mental health issues, behavioral difficulties, and chronic illnesses. In Chile, adverse experiences are particularly prevalent in communities affected by poverty, migration, natural disasters, and systemic inequalities. Children and adolescents from indigenous and migrant populations face unique challenges, including cultural marginalization and reduced access to essential resources. Despite advancements in legal frameworks and public policies aimed at protecting children’s rights, such as the “Chile Crece Más” (former Chile Crece Contigo) program, significant gaps remain in understanding the local contexts of adversity and developing targeted, evidence-based solutions. The IINARA Center addresses these gaps through a multidisciplinary approach, integrating fields such as neuroscience, psychology, public health, and social sciences. Its mission is to understand the mechanisms underlying resilience in children and adolescents, using this knowledge to design interventions that protect vulnerable groups from the negative effects of adversity. The Center’s objectives include identifying neurobiological, socioemotional, and contextual indicators of vulnerability and resilience; implementing culturally adapted interventions to promote positive developmental trajectories; and informing public policy through evidence-based recommendations. The research will employ both qualitative methodologies, such as ethnographic studies and semi-structured interviews, and quantitative methodologies, such as the application of instruments that measure cognitive, emotional and social functioning and neuroscientific measures to understand the underlying neural mechanisms of this functioning. It will also include a randomized controlled trial (RCT) to test an intervention developed synergistically in IINARA. A significant focus will be placed on studying diverse cultural contexts that are particular to Chile, such as indigenous and migrant communities, to ensure interventions are inclusive and culturally relevant. All this will allow us to construct a model of cognitive and socioemotional functioning of children exposed to adversity across the territory, helping to guide the identification of biomarkers and predictors of resilience. The expected impact of the IINARA Center extends across multiple dimensions. In the realm of public policy, the Center will provide robust, evidence-based recommendations for designing and implementing strategies that address childhood adversity. This includes fostering intersectoral collaboration among government agencies, educational institutions, and healthcare providers to create a comprehensive support system for children and adolescents. The Center will also strengthen capacity building by training human resources, including researchers, educators, and policymakers, in interdisciplinary approaches to childhood resilience. Through its collaborative framework, the Center will promote associativity among academia, public institutions, and civil society organizations. By partnering with international research networks and leveraging global expertise, it will position Chile as a leader in addressing childhood adversity in Latin America. The dissemination of findings will include outreach to both public and private sectors, ensuring the transfer of knowledge and technologies that benefit diverse stakeholders. By engaging communities directly in the design and implementation of interventions, the Center will foster a participatory approach that enhances the cultural relevance and sustainability of its initiatives. Ultimately, the IINARA Center aspires to contribute to the development of a more resilient and equitable society by improving developmental outcomes for children and adolescents across Chile. Its work will not only reduce the long-term impact of adversity but also strengthen the country’s social and economic fabric, creating opportunities for future generations to thrive.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][/vc_section][vc_section css=".vc_custom_1649209804184{background-color: #f6faff !important;}" el_class="p-md-0 pt-md-5"][vc_row el_class="container mx-auto align-items-center p-md-0 pt-5"][vc_column el_class="p-0"][/vc_column][/vc_row][/vc_section][vc_section css=".vc_custom_1649210787516{background-color: #f6faff !important;}" el_class="p-md-0 pt-md-5 pb-md-5"][vc_row el_class="container mx-auto align-items-center"][vc_column][/vc_column][/vc_row][/vc_section]

[vc_section el_class="container mx-auto align-items-center circle--pattern" css=".vc_custom_1648956589196{padding-top: 3rem !important;}"][vc_row el_class="pb-5"][vc_column][vc_wp_custommenu nav_menu="6"][uoh_breadcrumb_component automatic_breadcrumb="true"][uoh_title_component title_dropdown="big" title_decorator="true"]{{title}}[/uoh_title_component][vc_column_text css=""]Mental health conditions and inequities in Chile have risen significantly over recent decades, fueled by factors such as social exclusion, precarious employment, and environmental challenges. In line with recent national legislation and policy reforms, including the recently proposed Mental Health Law (2024,) there is growing recognition that these issues require not only expanded clinical services but also a deeper focus on the socio-structural determinants of mental health (Breilh, 2023; Lund et al., 2018). The Centro de Investigación y Acción en Determinación Social y Salud Mental (Center for Research and Action in Social Determination and Mental Health) or CIADES responds to this urgency by adopting a Latin American–rooted Social Determination of Health (SDnH) framework, thereby situating mental health vulnerabilities and risks within broader historical, economic, and political contexts. CIADES will work in close collaboration with the Ministry of Social Development and Family (MIDESO) and the Ministry of Health (MINSAL), to generate robust evidence and policy guidance to address the social factors that affect and produce mental health problems beyond the individual. This collaboration ensures that the Center’s research advances academic knowledge and informs public-sector strategies and interventions. In doing so, CIADES seeks to address crucial social factors, including growing economic inequalities, stigma, and social disintegration, which have direct implications for mental well-being across the lifespan. Methodologically, CIADES employs a three-by-three matrix that interlinks three social determinants— Social Exclusion and Discrimination, Environmental Factors, and Employment—with three priority populations: migrants, older adults, and people with SMI (SMI). This matrix underpins interdisciplinary research lines, integrating quantitative (e.g., epidemiological surveys, geospatial risk mapping), qualitative (e.g., multimodal and sensory ethnography, focus groups), and participatory methods. AI-driven analyses, such as natural language processing for tracking stigma on social media, and economic evaluations that assess intervention feasibility also feature prominently within the Center’s approach. The significance of this research lies in its focus on macro-structural drivers—housing insecurity, workplace discrimination, socio-environmental conflicts—and how they contribute to mental health inequities. By examining these intersecting challenges, CIADES will move beyond an exclusively clinical perspective to propose and evaluate, in close collaboration with MIDESO and MINSAL, evidence-based strategies that can be implemented at multiple levels: local (community-based initiatives), regional (intersectoral policies), and national (legislative reforms). This holistic orientation positions CIADES as a transformative force in Chile’s public policy on mental health. Once established, the Center expects to identify and integrate other social determinants and priority groups. The Center’s work will be guided by four Specific Objectives. First, Generate Evidence for Strategic Interventions and Policy Reforms involves collaborating with MIDESO and MINSAL to systematically examine socio-structural determinants—such as discrimination, environmental stressors, and employment vulnerabilities—and generate robust evidence to inform and guide future interventions and policy actions. Second, Methodological Development uses participatory and mixed-methods approaches, emphasizing community involvement and local knowledge. Third, Capacity Building trains emerging researchers, policymakers, and practitioners to apply the SDnH framework. Finally, Knowledge Dissemination and Policy Advocacy entails translating findings into policy briefs, stakeholder workshops, and legislative recommendations that foreground structural change and equitable access to the exercise of rights, and to policies, programs and services. CIADES benefits from a multidisciplinary team involving principal and associate investigators with extensive track records in mental health, social sciences, environmental studies, and policy work. Their collective experience includes leading large-scale epidemiological surveys, designing culturally relevant interventions, and influencing legislative reforms. This breadth enables the Center to integrate cutting-edge methods—such as AI-driven stigma detection and geospatial modeling—within a robust theoretical framework. By drawing on a wide range of expertise, CIADES is uniquely positioned to undertake a comprehensive agenda that links empirical research to transformative actions in policy and practice. CIADES anticipates having a significant impact at the national level by influencing discussions on the design, implementation, and evaluation of policies related to labor laws, anti-discrimination statutes, community-oriented service models, environmental regulations, urban transformations, and other public policies with an impact on mental health. In the short term, the center aims to increase recognition of the structural factors that affect the mental health of different populations, factors that are often overlooked or ignored due to the current emphasis on individual-focused approaches. Collaborating with communities, CIADES will co-design initiatives and pilot projects that serve as scalable case studies. These efforts will lead to the production of policy briefs and guidelines, offering new frameworks to understand mental health challenges and proposing context-sensitive interventions. Over the medium to long term, CIADES aims to enhance intersectoral collaboration to drive structural-level interventions able to reduce mental health disparities— positioning Chile as a regional leader in addressing mental health through a justice-based perspective. The Center places a strong emphasis on capacity building and human capital formation as integral components of its mission. Students from undergraduate to postgraduate levels will benefit from interdisciplinary training in mental health, social epidemiology, qualitative methods, participatory methods and inclusive research, and implementation and dissemination science. This approach aims to nurture a new generation of scholars, practitioners, and other stakeholders equipped with the skills and knowledge necessary to advance the SDnH perspective. Furthermore, partnerships with leading international institutions, such as King’s College London and Columbia University, will facilitate knowledge exchange, foster global networks, and enhance CIADES’ reach and credibility on an international scale. Through proactive dissemination, outreach, and knowledge transfer, CIADES will engage with both public and private sectors to drive actionable change. Dissemination channels include academic publications, open-access materials, community forums, policy dialogues, and strategic communication through social media to ensure broader public penetration of the center's work. Regarding academic publications, CIADES is committed to publishing in high-impact international journals while also recognizing the strategic importance of positioning itself within Latin American and national contexts by contributing to academic journals in Spanish. Open-access materials will include the development of conceptual, methodological, and practical tools and guides, which will be freely available for public use. Community forums will serve both to share research findings and to identify emerging issues among the general population, while policy dialogues will aim to directly support and influence decision-making processes at the policy level based on the center’s research findings and experiences.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][/vc_section][vc_section css=".vc_custom_1649209804184{background-color: #f6faff !important;}" el_class="p-md-0 pt-md-5"][vc_row el_class="container mx-auto align-items-center p-md-0 pt-5"][vc_column el_class="p-0"][/vc_column][/vc_row][/vc_section][vc_section css=".vc_custom_1649210787516{background-color: #f6faff !important;}" el_class="p-md-0 pt-md-5 pb-md-5"][vc_row el_class="container mx-auto align-items-center"][vc_column][/vc_column][/vc_row][/vc_section]

[vc_section el_class="container mx-auto align-items-center circle--pattern" css=".vc_custom_1648956589196{padding-top: 3rem !important;}"][vc_row el_class="pb-5"][vc_column][vc_wp_custommenu nav_menu="6"][uoh_breadcrumb_component automatic_breadcrumb="true"][uoh_title_component title_dropdown="big" title_decorator="true"]{{title}}[/uoh_title_component][vc_column_text css=""]The proposed IINARA Research Center (Investigación e Innovación en Niñez, Adolescencia, Resiliencia y Adversidad) seeks to address the pressing challenge of adversity during childhood and their profound effects on children’s and adolescents’ development in Chile. By combining cutting-edge research with a strong focus on public policy, capacity building, and community collaboration, the Center aims to generate actionable evidence that fosters resilience and promotes well-being among vulnerable populations that could inform public policy making. The initiative aligns with national priorities, including equitable access to developmental resources, and seeks to build a foundation for sustainable social and economic progress. Adverse Childhood Experiences—ranging from abuse and neglect to socioeconomic adversity—have been linked to long-term mental health issues, behavioral difficulties, and chronic illnesses. In Chile, adverse experiences are particularly prevalent in communities affected by poverty, migration, natural disasters, and systemic inequalities. Children and adolescents from indigenous and migrant populations face unique challenges, including cultural marginalization and reduced access to essential resources. Despite advancements in legal frameworks and public policies aimed at protecting children’s rights, such as the “Chile Crece Más” (former Chile Crece Contigo) program, significant gaps remain in understanding the local contexts of adversity and developing targeted, evidence-based solutions. The IINARA Center addresses these gaps through a multidisciplinary approach, integrating fields such as neuroscience, psychology, public health, and social sciences. Its mission is to understand the mechanisms underlying resilience in children and adolescents, using this knowledge to design interventions that protect vulnerable groups from the negative effects of adversity. The Center’s objectives include identifying neurobiological, socioemotional, and contextual indicators of vulnerability and resilience; implementing culturally adapted interventions to promote positive developmental trajectories; and informing public policy through evidence-based recommendations. The research will employ both qualitative methodologies, such as ethnographic studies and semi-structured interviews, and quantitative methodologies, such as the application of instruments that measure cognitive, emotional and social functioning and neuroscientific measures to understand the underlying neural mechanisms of this functioning. It will also include a randomized controlled trial (RCT) to test an intervention developed synergistically in IINARA. A significant focus will be placed on studying diverse cultural contexts that are particular to Chile, such as indigenous and migrant communities, to ensure interventions are inclusive and culturally relevant. All this will allow us to construct a model of cognitive and socioemotional functioning of children exposed to adversity across the territory, helping to guide the identification of biomarkers and predictors of resilience. The expected impact of the IINARA Center extends across multiple dimensions. In the realm of public policy, the Center will provide robust, evidence-based recommendations for designing and implementing strategies that address childhood adversity. This includes fostering intersectoral collaboration among government agencies, educational institutions, and healthcare providers to create a comprehensive support system for children and adolescents. The Center will also strengthen capacity building by training human resources, including researchers, educators, and policymakers, in interdisciplinary approaches to childhood resilience. Through its collaborative framework, the Center will promote associativity among academia, public institutions, and civil society organizations. By partnering with international research networks and leveraging global expertise, it will position Chile as a leader in addressing childhood adversity in Latin America. The dissemination of findings will include outreach to both public and private sectors, ensuring the transfer of knowledge and technologies that benefit diverse stakeholders. By engaging communities directly in the design and implementation of interventions, the Center will foster a participatory approach that enhances the cultural relevance and sustainability of its initiatives. Ultimately, the IINARA Center aspires to contribute to the development of a more resilient and equitable society by improving developmental outcomes for children and adolescents across Chile. Its work will not only reduce the long-term impact of adversity but also strengthen the country’s social and economic fabric, creating opportunities for future generations to thrive.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][/vc_section][vc_section css=".vc_custom_1649209804184{background-color: #f6faff !important;}" el_class="p-md-0 pt-md-5"][vc_row el_class="container mx-auto align-items-center p-md-0 pt-5"][vc_column el_class="p-0"][/vc_column][/vc_row][/vc_section][vc_section css=".vc_custom_1649210787516{background-color: #f6faff !important;}" el_class="p-md-0 pt-md-5 pb-md-5"][vc_row el_class="container mx-auto align-items-center"][vc_column][/vc_column][/vc_row][/vc_section]