Almost two thousand years ago, the Roman poet Juvenal coined the phrase ‘mens sana in corpore sano’ (a healthy mind in a healthy body). This comes from a longer work urging readers to reject wealth, fame, and superficial pleasures, and instead embrace a holistic vision of wellbeing, where physical and psychological health are intertwined.
Two millennia later, we still struggle to ascribe equal value to both sides of this equation. Over the past century, humanity has been blessed with innovations that Juvenal’s contemporaries could only dream of: antibiotics, keyhole surgery and advanced scanning being just a few examples. Beyond a handful of new medications, mental health remains the poor cousin. It is desperately frustrating to see people turned away or left to endure long waits because the system cannot meet demand, despite the dedication of mental health teams.
Medications – cheap and quick to dispense – are useful, but often seen as an easy fix. Spaniards consume more psychiatric medications than most Europeans, despite similar rates of mental illness. Studies have found that medication is commonly used as a substitute for comprehensive mental health services, especially among poorer and marginalized groups.
Psychological (‘talking’) therapies are proven to work, and equip people with tools to face future illness; yet Spain suffers a shortage of psychologists, with thousands more needed. Likewise, a balanced diet, opportunities to exercise and socialise are all key parts of mental health, but even more difficult to encourage.
There is also a strong economic case for paying attention to mental health, which costs Spain 15 billion Euros in sick leave annually. The link between mental health problems and chronic illness is well-documented, as is the fact that it costs significantly more to treat chronic diseases in people with mental health conditions.
Earlier this year, the government announced a €39 million boost dedicated to implementing mental health improvements, alongside nearly €18 million earmarked for suicide prevention. This represents the largest budgetary commitment to mental health ever made by the Spanish government and is welcome news, however even more investment is needed to give the people of Spain the care they deserve.