I wholeheartedly agree. I visited Cuba a few years ago. Our tour guide was a former surgeon and I had asked him about the level of antidepressants and antianxiety meds prescribed on the island.

He said, “we don’t have that problem here.”

Although the living conditions are horrible, and most residents don’t make more than $35 a month regardless of their education and occupation, there is a very strong sense of community and the streets are filled with people playing dominos, kids playing ball in the streets, or just sitting around chatting with their neighbors.

There are cell phones, but very little service and wifi is regulated and restricted to only certain areas that you must purchase a card to use.

Cubans have always been a very social culture, but the restrictions placed upon them have made it a necessity.

Despite their living conditions, mental health issues do not seem to be an issue on the island, and I tend to believe it is because of their constant socialization.

I’m not a psychologist, just an observer of man.

Very good article.