Under the motto ‘Work and mental health’, the campaign of the General Directorate of Mental Health focuses on the influence that the work environment plays on mental health
During this last year, the SCS has created five new Mental Health care devices: a care unit for Eating Disorders, a new Mental Health child and youth care center in Telde, a psychosocial rehabilitation day center in La Palma, a new Psychiatric Emergency area at the HUC, and a new community mental health unit in La Laguna
The mental health network served 70,000 patients in 2023 and carried out nearly 318,000 specialized care consultations
The Department of Health of the Government of the Canary Islands adheres to the commemoration of World Mental Health Day, which takes place every October 10, with the aim of raising awareness among citizens about the relevance of mental health, mental health problems and its repercussions. On this occasion, following the General Directorate of Mental Health and Addictions, a campaign has been launched that follows this year’s motto of the Mental Health Confederation of Spain, Work and mental health, a fundamental link.
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines health as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” In view of this, it is evident that without mental health there cannot be full health. According to epidemiological studies in the general population, it is estimated that in Spain one in four people has or will have a mental health problem throughout their life. Meanwhile, between 2.5 and three percent have a serious mental disorder, which represents more than a million people.
The General Directorate of Mental Health and Addictions considers that prevention strategies must be developed at multiple levels, with the workplace being of great relevance. In this sense, they specify that comprehensive mental health care is influenced by multiple factors, such as social, work, cultural, environmental and economic factors, in addition to interpersonal relationships, social connection and each person’s own intrinsic factors.
Following this idea, the Ministry of Health joins the commemoration of World Mental Health Day for another year with the launch of a dissemination campaign focused on the influence of work activity on mental health. This action seeks to remember the importance of the person developing their life in equality and dignity, which includes development at all levels: work, training, emotional, sexual and social.
Influence of the work environment
Under the motto Work and mental health, a fundamental link, the focus of the action seeks to highlight the influence that the work environment has on mental health and the need for working environments and conditions to promote the well-being of workers. .
The motto also points to an important fact such as the low labor insertion of people with mental health problems, which is a barrier to their social inclusion. It is still necessary to continue working to eliminate the stigma that exists towards people with mental health problems, since various prejudices make it difficult for such people to normalize their employment. This situation makes it difficult for them to fully integrate into society and contribute their potential.
New resources in the last year
Over the last year, the Ministry of Health has launched a series of assistance devices to provide coverage for people with mental health problems. Thus, a new care unit for eating disorders has been activated in Gran Canaria, which lacked this resource until now, a new Mental Health care center for children and adolescents in Telde, a psychosocial rehabilitation day center in La Palma, a new Psychiatric Emergency area at the Canary Islands University Hospital, and a new community mental health unit in La Laguna, among others.
Furthermore, in the area of planning, the Mental Health Plan is currently in the process of being reviewed to adapt it to the new realities and needs of the population. The Intervention Protocol for suicide risk in educational institutions in the Canary Islands has also been developed, which has been developed in the Canary Islands classrooms since this year.
318,000 consultations attended to in the Mental Health network
Around 700 SCS professionals who make up the mental health network work in all of these devices, who during 2023 treated around 70,000 patients and carried out around 318,000 consultations.