On August 22nd, prematurely and completely unexpectedly, our friend, colleague, and president of the Catalan Mental Health Congress Foundation, Josep Clusa, passed away.
En Pep, as we friends used to call him, has left a great void that we will have to fill with all that he offered us throughout his life.
Pep Clusa, a psychiatrist, psychoanalyst, and above all, a mental health professional with a vocation for public, democratic, progressive, and quality healthcare, had a long and extensive professional career. Among other activities, he was one of the driving forces behind the psychiatric reform process in our country, and in particular, the “reconversion” process of the Institut de Salut Mental de la Santa Creu and later as the founder and director of the Dr. Pi i Molist Day Center, affiliated with the Psychiatry Service of the Hospital de Sant Pau. He participated in various commissions and working groups related to (mental) Health Plans since the Generalitat took over healthcare responsibilities. He was an active member of several scientific and professional societies, such as the Spanish Psychoanalytic Society and the Psychiatrists' Section of the Official College of Physicians of Barcelona.
In the local sphere, in recent years, he had chaired the Health Group of the Barcelona City Council's Social Welfare Municipal Council. Since 2005, he held the presidency of the Catalan Congress of Mental Health Foundation, of which he was a founding member. From this organization, he promoted and led various initiatives in defense of and for the improvement of mental health in Catalonia.
En Pep Clusa, as we've been able to hear and share these past few days, was a good, generous, affectionate man who was appreciated and loved. Professionally, he was a committed, critical, combative, enthusiastic, and persistent colleague, a defender of universal human values and social justice.
Among other writings and words of remembrance, these days, we've heard: “En Pep was one of those people who helps you grow...”, “representing the best human qualities...”, “companion, teacher, and example”, “one of the best people I've ever met...” and we could go on. En Pep was that and much more!
In his absence, but with his memory ever-present in everyone's minds and with his example, we will continue to work and fight for all of his projects and ideals.
Wherever you are, Pep, a big hug!
Victor Marti i Carrasco
Director FCCSM