The PSOE and Compromís groups within the Alicante City Council presented a statement for the upcoming October plenary, urging the city government to develop a Municipal Mental Health Plan. This comes at the invitation of the Municipal Health Council for the city of Alicante.
Council members Rafa Mas of Compromís and Lara López of the PSOE met at the ADIEM Foundation to discuss, present, and formalize the statement as communicated by the Valencia-based party.
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In line with these concerns, Mayor Rafa Mas stated that mental health is a major challenge in contemporary society and must be a priority in the municipal health strategy. He outlined an initiative to establish a Local Health Council and to create a municipal mental health plan with three core goals: prevention, promotion, and care for people with mental health issues and their families. The plan would specifically focus on the most vulnerable groups, including children, adolescents, and those with limited resources. He emphasized that mental health has not previously been a top priority for the municipality, but it requires urgent attention given societal demands.
Socialist councillor Lara López added that the city council has substantial capacity to raise mental health awareness. Reducing and eliminating stigma around mental health is essential for building a healthier society. The proposal to implement a municipal mental health plan is already being pursued in many towns, and López saw this as a chance for effective collaboration across social and employment sectors.
The institutional release highlights the global significance of mental health. The World Health Organization notes that one in four people will face a mental health problem at some point in life. In Spain, about three million people have been diagnosed with depression, accounting for roughly 6.68 percent of the population according to the National Institute of Statistics. The data also show a gender difference, with women experiencing major depressive episodes at about double the rate of men. Spain registers around 7.9 deaths per 100,000 due to suicide, ranking it as a leading external cause of death with about 3,539 yearly fatalities, higher than traffic incidents. The aging population is particularly affected, with many cases emerging after age 65. The pandemic and the resulting economic crisis intensified these numbers.
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In February 2021 a CIS survey indicated alarming mental health indicators among Hispanics, including 11.7 percent who experienced the death of a close relative, 15 percent who reported anxiety attacks, 11 percent who felt hopeless, 35 percent who cried frequently, 6.4 percent who consulted a mental health professional, and 5.8 percent who used antidepressants. The United Nations called for special measures to safeguard mental health during the rise in suicide and drug use around May 14, 2020. The cost of depression for an individual is estimated at 235 euros annually. The most dangerous aspect of depression is its potential to lead to suicide.
Against this backdrop, mental health issues often remain a taboo topic within social and political circles, according to Compromís. The overall aim of the declaration is clear: Alicante City Council should prepare a Municipal Mental Health Plan and convene the municipal health council. The plan emerged from the Subcommittee on Health Prevention and Social Coexistence under the Covid-19 recovery framework, which had already approved twenty measures, including the formation of this council. This approach aims to analyze the current situation and to develop prevention and response strategies for the most vulnerable groups.
Compromís explains that the plan should address boosting public awareness of the seriousness of mental health problems and paying particular attention to vulnerable groups such as those affected by Covid-19, the elderly, children, adolescents, healthcare workers, and individuals with prior mental health conditions.
In conclusion, the PSOE and Compromís statement champions public awareness and preventive policies for mental health. It calls for action to reduce social stigma, intervene early, and coordinate effective responses to emerging problematic behavior. The agreement also supports municipal care programs for those affected by mental health issues. It proposes the creation of social support groups led by experts to assist patients and ease the family burden of long-term illnesses. The plan also envisions partnerships with local social representatives and the adoption of a citywide media guide on mental health—with guidance on responsible reporting—carried out by Compromís as part of their announced measures. The overall relevance centers on safeguarding mental health as a public priority and providing structures to assist people and families in Alicante.
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