Do we have good mental health?
In 2023, the Spanish Mental Health Confederation and the Mutua Madrileña Foundation presented the report "The Situation of Mental Health in Spain ," a study that aims to provide a clear picture of the state of well-being and mental health of the Spanish population, as well as to identify needs and demands in this regard.
One of the elements that stands out in this study is the use of a mixed methodology: qualitative (focus groups) and quantitative (survey), offering the impressions of more than 2,000 people, including people with their own experience (young and adult), family members, primary and specialized care professionals, and the general population.
The results show that for the Spanish population, mental health is an integral part of their overall well-being and is closely related to a person's social and economic circumstances and their intersectionality, that is, the different social factors that define a person such as gender, ethnicity, place of residence, age, etc.
74.7% of participants believe that the mental health of the Spanish population has worsened.
According to the survey, 22.8% of the Spanish adult population have been diagnosed with mental illness at some point in their lives or rate their current mental health as poor or very poor. Specifically, 42.1% of those with personal experience have suffered from depression, 47.6% have experienced anxiety attacks, 36.9% have experienced prolonged anxiety, and nearly 20% take some form of psychotropic medication (the most common being anxiolytics and antidepressants). Women, young people, and members of the LGBTQ+ community are the groups that rate their mental health the worst.
These data are consistent with those reported in the 2020-2021 National Health System Annual Report , which indicates that 29% of the population has been diagnosed with some mental health problem, the most frequent being anxiety, insomnia and depression.
Slightly more than half of those seeking specialized mental health care do so within the public healthcare system (56.1% of those attending psychiatric consultations and 55.3% of those attending psychological consultations), while a smaller percentage seek private psychological or psychiatric consultations (36.1% and 33.5%, respectively). Regarding treatment, 57.1% receive medication-based therapy, 47.6% receive psychotherapy, and 27.4% participate in social and support programs.
More than half of those with personal experience report having experienced social rejection (58.5%) or discrimination (55%), especially in their workplace. Therefore, many people are concerned about the mistrust that sharing their problems at work might generate, and only 12.9% have discussed them in their work environment.
Taking care of mental health at work
The mental health of young people is worrying, as is that of women and other vulnerable groups.
The report reveals that young people aged 18 to 34 are the population most likely to report having experienced mental health symptoms at some point, and one in four has a mental health diagnosis. This age group also reports the highest rates of suicidal thoughts or attempts (31.8%) and self-harm (30.7%).
Women represent 61.3% of those with lived experience (compared to 38.3% of men) and are more likely to use psychotropic medications than men. The study suggests that women are underserved in specialized mental health services, as they access these services at the same rate as men. Furthermore, women generally continue to assume the role of caregivers for other family members and report experiencing the greatest burden in this regard. The 2020 European Health Survey also indicates that women are more likely to rate their perceived health as poor or very poor.
The report identifies other at-risk groups, such as LGBTQ+ individuals, people from lower and lower-middle-class backgrounds, those struggling to pay their bills, people with work disabilities, and those with unhealthy consumption habits. The population with intermediate occupations, skilled or semi-skilled primary sector workers, and unskilled workers has the highest prevalence of depressive disorders, as shown in the 2020 European Health Survey .
The underground of the social crisis post COVID-19
All of them have a higher probability of having their own experience with mental health and also of using psychotropic drugs.
In general, the people participating in the focus groups and the survey believe that the resources allocated to mental health care are insufficient and that health and social measures are needed to care for people with mental health problems.
- Health measures: increase the number of mental health professionals (67.8%), ensure continuity of care with the same professional team (48.7%) and increase the number of community mental health centers (46.4%).
- Social measures: actions to prevent work stress and situations of harassment (58%), promote community initiatives for the prevention of unwanted loneliness and promote resilience (51.3%) and incorporate specific awareness and prevention programs in the educational field (48%).
Mental health care and attention cannot be provided solely from a health perspective; it must also extend to the social sphere, including the person's living and working conditions, the context, and the creation of a future life project.
Thus, the needs and demands highlighted in the report include:
- Attention to vulnerable groups.
- Visibility and the fight against stigma.
- Improving the frequency of consultations and reducing waiting lists.
- Facilitate access to psychotherapeutic services.
- Taking care of healthcare professionals.
- Promote employment opportunities for people with mental health problems.
- Facilitate access to housing.
- Implement measures that help ensure continuity in studies or reintegration into the workplace after a relapse.
- Promote the role of the assistant.
Featuring
