«Those were the days...»
As the Mary Hopkin song went: «Ah, what times...»
I'm trying to remember where I was at that time. I was part of the Governing Board of what was then called the Official College of Psychologists of Catalonia (COPC). The year before, in 1999, we had been asked to participate in the 1st Mental Health Congress, dedicated to trying to define Mental Health, which included a Memorial to Dr. Emili Mira, something we did with great pleasure. Subsequently, we became part of the Board of Trustees of the newly created Foundation as a supporting member, along with the College of Nurses of Barcelona, the Official College of Social Work of Catalonia, the Official College of Social Educators of Catalonia, and the Official College of Physicians of Barcelona. This interdisciplinary approach has been one of its distinguishing features from the outset, something I highly value.
I was a member of the Board for many, many years, until 2018, and I remember that entire «era» as very gratifying and rewarding, while also an era of considerable effort. Looking back with current eyes, we were young, but not that young anymore, and the meetings, always in the evening, were tiring, but the Board was full of very, very hardworking people, very aware of the social dimension of their work and of great professional value. My assessment of those years is enormously positive. The congresses were not limited to traditional round tables, workshops, etcetera, but involved a long preparation phase with Working Groups that «cultivated» the themes of the Congress. In other words, they were not just an exhibition for individuals or groups, but fostered the deepening and reflection of professionals for at least a year. The first Working Groups consolidated their operations, whether or not a congress was in prospect, and new ones were created.
I believe mentioning some of the topics covered gives a clear idea of the great interest in the Foundation's work: «The Frontiers of the Psyche,» «The Construction of Care,» «Mental Health and Community: The Value of Citizenship,» «Migrations, Exile, and Refuge: Human Rights and Mental Health,» «Mental Health and Society in a Context of Crisis,» «Mental Health in Childhood and Adolescence.».
I particularly recall with emotion the 5th Congress, which paid tribute to Roser Pérez-Simó, and the 6th Congress, which with its Memorial remembered the long and valuable journey of Pep Clusa, the soul of the Foundation for many years.
The Foundation also sponsored the Mental Health Platform, which has worked with great enthusiasm to unite professionals, attempting to protect them in a context of severe deterioration of their working conditions and roles. I was also a part of it for some years.
To conclude, I'm inspired by another song, this time by Joan Manuel Serrat, «Ara que tinc vint anys» (Now that I'm twenty). As he said: "Now that I'm twenty, now that I still have strength...". So, to many, many more years, Foundation.
Paloma Azpilicueta
Clinical Psychologist - Psychotherapist