The lack of quality work is a factor that has a very significant, negative impact on our mental health. And, as he warns Nel González Zapicopresident of the Mental Health Confederation Spainnot having decent and acceptable working conditions contributes to a notable decline in people’s well-being.
For this reason, from the entity, they once again claimed, during the World Mental Health Daywhich was held this Thursday, October 10, a greater involvement of both public administrations and companies since, as González Zapico stressed, “mental health is everyone’s issue and we must take care of it.”
During this interview with SociableIn addition, the president of the Spanish Mental Health Confederation listed some of the claims that the entity maintains; detailed what are the main signs that could alert you to a possible mental health problem; and claimed more real resourcesand not just theoretical, for a matter that, ultimately, seeks the well-being of people as its ultimate goal.
– This Thursday was celebrated World Mental Health Day, what main message did you want to convey within the framework of this day?
The slogan of this day was ‘Work and mental health, a fundamental link’. This slogan was a suggestion from the World Federation to which we belong and this year we decided not to change because we sincerely believe that it is a very important current issue and the scope of work in our country, unfortunately, is an element that generates quite a lot of damage to the well-being of people, for example, if you have a precarious job or one that is not well paid or you have to work a thousand hours to make ends meet…
– What have been your main demands for this day?
We believe that the work environment, in which we spend so much time, should be an element that allows you to achieve the highest levels of autonomy and well-being, without having to aspire to buy, as I often say jokingly, eight-wheeled cars. . But there are also many more parts of well-being that have to do with social relationships, with personal satisfaction with things… and all that results in well-being.
In the work environment, almost nothing that we are experiencing favors this well-being. For this day, we think that there are several levels. Firstly, there must be access to adequate employment for the entire population, particularly for people with disabilities; and in mental health, real access to employment, since we are the disability that has the least access to employment.
“If you have the ability to talk about what worries you, you will surely find someone who supports you, understands you and is with you”
On the other hand, we also demand action from the State that transforms our social spirit of solidarity so that we are all aware that mental health is everyone’s issue and we must take care of it.
We also have specific demands that have to do with the workplace. On the one hand, more involvement of companies in safe, healthy and inclusive environments. On the other hand, the necessary legislative measures be arbitrated so that, for example, the evaluation of psychosocial risks is introduced in mandatory annual medical examinations.
In addition, help companies fight against job, economic and occupational precariousness, which is not only a matter of being alarmed when there is a fatal workplace accident, but there are other much more sinuous and perverse wear and tear that make many people see their mental health compromised.
And we also demand that companies, of course, with due legislative support, admit support systems and the necessary adaptations so that people can carry out their work in an adequate way.
And, of course, we ask the administration to respect the job insertion quota; and we ask that, for mental health, it be at least 2%.
– What factors do you think contribute to a worsening of mental health and which do you consider essential to improve it?
As for the worsening, the most important would be, in this case of employment, job insecurity, but there are also others such as competitiveness, personal commitment in situations of success… We think, fundamentally, of not accessing a decent job that allows you to participate in the economy, make your life a pleasant place, where you can, for example, have social networks and leisure… And to face this, we must strengthen the personal support networks that we all need.
Furthermore, we consider it very important that our rights must be respected, the right to decent employment, that our well-being be taken care of. These rights must be favored and promoted by public powers, which must be responsible and also take, for their part, the reins of this matter.
– Could you share some practical tips to prevent mental health problems on a daily basis?
We want there to be an intervention in the educational field that allows boys and girls to have support and emotional education that encourages them to see things from higher expectations.
As for day-to-day life, I would like to tell people that rather than worrying about many things, it is better to take care of one specific thing. For example, working with your hands or playing an instrument, which is not only culture, but also education and that is always well-being for people’s mental health.
Also, don’t have strange fears. And if you have any questions or problems, quickly seek help. Talk about the topic with your most favorable environment – your family, your co-workers, your friends or your teachers – and then begin to see it as something normal. If you have the ability to talk about what worries you, you will surely find someone who supports you, understands you and is with you. It is very important, for this, not to lose the social support environments that each of us has.
“There are many people who live and feel, but who do not talk about what worries them; and if they were encouraged to do so, they could chase away those fears that can lead you to see yourself alone or desperate.”
– What warning signs should we take into account to identify possible mental health problems in ourselves or our loved ones?
I think the main symptom would be problems with sleep. If we don’t sleep well, if we see that our character is turning sour or we are irascible, if we are moving away from that kind life to which we all have the right… maybe something is already happening that we should bring to the attention of some professionals.
There are also other possible symptoms in the environment, which are noticed in the people you interact with. For example, people don’t feel like doing what they used to do, they are abnormally sad or they want to go all out, for example, by drinking. In this case, you have to show a lot of empathy and unity and try to show those people that you are there and that, if they need something, they can count on you. This is something fundamental.
And, above all, when trying to protect the mental health of older people or children, it is not enough to have one’s own mental position and the attitude of being supportive, one must also have courage so that, if In the conversation, not all the things that should come up come up, let’s also be able to seek help for the people we consider may need it.
I am referring, specifically, to something terrible like suicide. There are many people who live and feel, but who do not speak about what worries them; And if they were encouraged to do it naturally, they could still chase away or exorcise those fears that can lead you at a certain moment to see yourself alone or desperate.
-How would you describe the current state of mental health in Spain?
Through studies we did with the Mutua Madrileña Foundation, we discovered that almost half of the Spanish population takes drugs or is worried about their mental health. That means we have poor mental health in our country.
Historically, mental health in Spain was always Cinderella, the poor relation, and it never played a leading role in that role of being equated with other diseases. Therefore, we can say that, apart from the fact that it is a right that should advance in the consideration of mental disorders, like any other illness, we should also take into account that we must fundamentally identify the lack of resources, which are what prevent This right of people to their mental health and well-being is adequately addressed. In Spain, for example, we have only six psychology professionals per 100,000 inhabitants, when the countries around us reach up to 18.
“The promotion and prevention of mental health are a very powerful element of savings. 6% of the GDP in Spain is going to alleviate mental disorders. And that is a tragedy for many people, due to the suffering, and an economic catastrophe for the country.”
– What role do public policies play in the promotion and protection of mental health?
We know perfectly well that the most important thing is to adequately promote mental health. And adequate promotion and prevention lead to immense economic savings and savings in people’s suffering.
Some policies are being carried out, but they belong more to theory than practice. We believe that real prevention of mental health would begin by having actions in the educational field that allow us to educate our boys and girls emotionally; and that, in turn, school councils have the resources to be able to avoid dangerous situations, such as bullying, that they also have the capacity to inform family members about the children’s journey and that, together, we carry out adequate promotion.
But this does not depend only on the voluntarism of the people, but also on the resources provided by the State. The promotion of mental health and the prevention of mental disorders are a very powerful element of savings. It must be taken into account that 60,000 million euros of GDP, 6% of GDP in Spain, are going to alleviate mental disorders. And that is a tragedy for many people, due to the suffering, and an economic catastrophe for the country. Therefore, everything spent on mental health should not be counted as an expense, but as an investment.
– What resources are available for people who need mental health support in Spain?
Well, they are quite rare. There are housing resources, hospitals for the clinical care of people who have a mental disorder, but we demand – more than this model, which is very expensive and, furthermore, has been shown to be not adequate – that mental health care be made always at the community level, that, apart from being cheaper, it has a more human dimension and is more feasible.
– Finally, how can employers and co-workers contribute to a work environment that promotes mental health?
I worked for 42 years in a company and the situations are totally different and changing. Much more so in modern times, in which, with teleworking, it seems that we are solving the problem when in reality it is of great importance.
We must keep in mind that people spend a lot of time at work and that jobs do not have to imply a deterioration in mental health, but rather real support to be able to participate in the economy and society to be able, for example, to have relationships. social services, pay for heating or go to the theater from time to time.