Mental health pathologies affect one wide range of the population and incidence it doesn’t stop growing. The SAAS Mental Health service has served only in the last 12 months about 5,100 people, and in parallel, from 2023 until today they have accessed outpatient psychology covered by the CASS a similar volume of people. In addition, it is estimated that uone in seven people is affected each year for this problem, and the half of the population will suffer from some kind of disorder of this nature throughout life. These are data that invite reflection and break the stereotypes that still weigh on society about the affected people.
“It is important to destigmatize going to the psychologist, psychiatry or the treatments”
All of this was made evident yesterday in the celebration ofa day that combined health and sportin the framework of World Health Daywhich is held tomorrow. Users of SAS, workers i politicians they shared some reflections from their perspectivesand also a basketball game to emphasize that sport and teamwork are the most powerful antidote to the isolation that often goes through a process of this nature. Precisely, in order to bring the situation of the affected patients closer to the rest of the public and break the stigmas, this year the motto of theWorld Health Organization is Listen to lived experiences. Real voices, real changes.
“Talking about what happens to us and asking for help is not a weakness, but an act of courage”
“It is important to give visibilityi there is nothing to say: I have to take care of myself. And here lies the importance of destigmatizing going to the psychologist, psychiatry or the treatments”, he pointed out John Soler, head of the Mental Health and Addictions service. In fact, one of the last studies of theAR+I showed that 37% of the population could suffer from depression. On the other hand, the Minister of Health, Helena Masshe recalled that “only if we listen can we build responses that are closer and adapted to people’s real needs”.
A moment from the day dedicated to mental health yesterday.
In this line, he referred to the mental health floors of theformer residence of Solà d’Enclar de Santa Coloma. He assured that the homes are a “jewel set in reality” because an infrastructure can be offered “with a certain degree of security” to patients who are in the process of re-entering society. In addition, he explained that in the coming months it is expected that more people will be able to join it besides the two who currently reside there.
He also stressed the other big one project of this area that can be realized a end of next yearthe Mental Health Center Sant Lluís de la Seu d’Urgell. “It will be a very firm step forward in the attention to users who require an income with very high degrees of support”, he pointed out. The forecast is that the installation will be completed and can open the doors to early 2027.
There was also no mention of resources such as number 177 of suicide preventionas part of the national prevention strategy to combat this problem, and the emotional support chat for young people. “On their own, however, they are not enough. We must continue to break down stigmas, because talking about what happens to us and asking for help is not a weakness, but a true act of courage and strength”, concluded the minister.
REPORT
It was very baddown, and right now I’m fine. I have projects and I want to do things”. These are the words of theAngelaone user of Center for Mental Health and Addictions of Ròdol in the process of recovering from his illness. Yesterday his testimony resonated strongly in front of the patients participating in the day and surely also served as a source of inspiration for them to face the process.
The road, however, has not been easy. He explained that he has suffered “various diseases” and who has also faced relapses and hard times. Based on his experience, he calls for a change in the social outlook towards people with mental health problems. “It’s a shame that these things happen nowadays“, he affirmed. In this regard, he clearly expressed his desire: “We want them to stop labeling us and leave us alone, because we have had enough of suffering in our lives“.
The patient also valued the support she received throughout the process. “I thank the whole group of professionals who helped me a lot”, and concluded his intervention by recalling the importance that sport has had in the recovery.
