SPANISH authorities spend less than the European average on mental health diagnosis, assistance and care, leading to a lack of resources for everything from depression and anxiety through to more serious pathologies such as schizophrenia.
Today (Monday, October 10) is International Mental Health Day, which has thrown into the spotlight the fact that although the average spending in this area for the European Union is 7% of the health budget, or €7 in every €100, Spain's own investment comes to just 5.5%, or €5.50 per €100.
Considered one of the top causes of temporary and permanent disability in the western world, a typical one in four people in Spain will suffer mental health problems at some point in their lives – a figure which exactly mirrors the global average.
In the main, these tend to be the less serious but equally debilitating conditions such as panic attacks, phobias, depression and OCD, or personality disorders (narcissistic, histrionic, paranoic, avoidant, and so on) although in many cases these can equally be life-threatening.
And certain brands of personality disorders, such as sociopathy and psychopathy can potentially lead to others being placed in danger.
The one in four, however, also covers very life-limiting conditions such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder – once known as 'manic depression' – attention deficit disorder and autism spectrum disorders, all of which need constant medication and monitoring.
Read more at thinkSPAIN.com