The article highlights a significant mental health crisis that is unfolding globally, emphasizing that one in eight individuals is affected by a mental disorder according to the World Health Organization (WHO). In Latin America, the situation is described as particularly alarming, with institutional neglect exacerbating the challenges faced by individuals with mental health issues. The article posits that the current situation necessitates a critical examination of various psychological and cultural phenomena within this context.

One such phenomenon is gender dysphoria, characterized by a conflict between an individual's experienced or expressed gender and the gender assigned at birth. The article also introduces the 'therian' phenomenon, where individuals identify as non-human beings, often animals. While these identity expressions may appear to offer cultural belonging or personal identity, the growing prevalence of these phenomena in specific social environments presents legitimate questions from psychological and psychiatric perspectives. The article suggests that a nuanced understanding and rigorous analysis of these expressions are essential, especially given the complexity of contemporary identity issues.

Importantly, the article clarifies that identifying as therian is not classified as a mental disorder in diagnostic manuals like the DSM-5 or the International Classification of Diseases. This distinction raises further inquiries into how society and mental health professionals should approach non-traditional identities and the implications for treatment and support, underscoring the need for informed discourse in the field of mental health.