The commemoration of World Mental Health Day has focused attention on psychological support when life is disrupted by emergencies and disasters. This event, held around October 10, has emphasized that emotional well-being is an essential part of health and requires organized and sensitive responses in crisis situations.
Chaired by Her Majesty Queen Letizia, the event aligned with the World Federation for Mental Health's proposal, which focuses on mental health in emergency and disaster situations . In a calm and constructive tone, lessons learned and tools for supporting those affected and their caregivers were shared.
Institutional event and participants
The meeting brought together representatives from the Third Sector and the Confederation's association movement , along with public officials. Among those in attendance were the Minister of Health, Mónica GarcÃa , and the President of Mental Health Spain, Nel González Zapico , as well as teams and professionals working on the front lines with the communities.
Recent emergencies and social response
In her address, the Queen emphasized the shared effort following events such as the DANA storm, the eruption of the Cumbre Vieja volcano, the Lorca earthquake , and the wildfires that ravaged various parts of the country this summer . She acknowledged the coordinated work of the Spanish Confederation for Mental Health and its partner organizations, which has strengthened support networks.
Manifesto: Rights and solidarity on the front line
Following the speeches, the World Mental Health Day manifesto was read by MarÃa Lourdes Tamurejo (Committee for Mental Health) and Adela MarÃa Montaño (Spanish State Network of Women in Mental Health). The text positions human rights as a refuge in emergencies, calls for solidarity as a lifeline, and emphasizes the need to care for the emotional well-being of victims and caregivers . It also proposes fostering learning communities to capitalize on experience and transfer useful knowledge for future critical events.
Conversation: keys to emotional management
The event included a discussion about the manifesto with Carlos Coarasa (managing director of the Vicente Ferrer Foundation ), Julio Huerta ( Horta Sud Community Foundation ), and Rosa Conde ( León Mental Health Association ). They shared experiences and guidelines for addressing emotional management in people affected by disasters, with direct references to the DANA storm and the wildfires this summer.
Community Learning and Support Network
The work of the Learning Community for the emotional management of people affected by disasters , developed by the Spanish Mental Health Confederation in collaboration with the Vicente Ferrer Foundation, has been brought to light. This initiative compiles the knowledge of teams that worked on the DANA storm, the Lorca earthquake, the La Palma eruption, and the COVID-19 pandemic , and translates it into a methodology for deploying Community Support Groups in the Valencian Community and León.
The groups prioritize supporting children and young people , women in vulnerable situations, and the elderly , with local interventions that take into account the timing and needs of each community, and that emphasize both prevention and recovery.
A closing with music and meeting with the public
The day concluded with a performance by Valencian singer-songwriter La MarÃa , who sang " Mon Vetlatori " and dedicated it to those affected by the DANA storm. As a final touch, Her Majesty met with the attendees , expressing her gratitude for their collective commitment.
The Spanish Mental Health Confederation, in figures
The Spanish Mental Health Confederation, a public benefit entity founded in 1983, integrates 18 single-province federations and associations which in turn group more than 360 entities , with a social base of more than 60.000 people spread throughout the territory.
This World Day has served to reinforce a clear message: protecting mental health in emergencies requires coordination, guaranteed rights, community support and recognition of the role of caregivers; a path that is already translating into concrete projects and networks that support people when they need it most.
