Mental Health and Society in a Context of Crisis: Perspectives, Opportunities, and Proposals

Albert Mariné. FCCSM Board Member

MENTAL HEALTH AND SOCIETY IN A CONTEXT OF CRISIS:
PERSPECTIVES, OPPORTUNITIES, AND PROPOSALS.
JORDI GOL MEMORIAL – HOMAGE TO ROSER PÉREZ SIMÓ
Barcelona, June 6, 7, and 8, 2013

This congress revolved around the impact on mental health of the socioeconomic crisis, which had erupted five years prior, a product of the voracity of a self-destructive economic system. Its subsequent mismanagement had dramatic consequences. On one hand, it caused greater social inequality and, on the other, a decrease in public resources (the shameful cuts) with a strong impact on healthcare and social services. Now immersed in a new crisis, we know that the as-yet uncorrected aftereffects of the previous one are proving literally lethal in the current circumstances.

The congress preparation process allowed for a thorough analysis of the repercussions of the socioeconomic crisis on health and an inventory of the responses by professionals and the community. Three groups worked intensely for two years using different methodologies on this topic, preparing documents that were presented at the congress. Seven years later, the recommendations are still fully valid and applicable to the current situation.

After assessing the various indicators of the crisis's effect, the prominent role of social movements as tools for empowerment and resistance was noted, without which the emotional consequences for the population would have been even worse.

Facing a professional response to crisis-induced disruptive disorders, such as minimization or purely pharmacological care management, the professional stance must be one of openness to the community, sharing and stimulating its most positive values: solidarity, creativity, and inclusion. Likewise, the need for networking and authentic collaboration between social and health services was highlighted. In this regard, Mercè Ginesta's conference was insightful and deserves to be reread.

The ethical values of professionals and institutions were discussed at length as a foundation for sustaining difficult and often unrecognized work.

A participatory proposal was launched: that users, family members, and professionals, along with citizens in general, be active agents in designing improvements for dignified and effective care for mental health problems in our society.

Seven years after their implementation, assessing these approaches is complex, given the varied circumstances of the devices and territories. Nevertheless, it can be stated that community mental health has been consolidating as a necessary model for the prevention and intervention in the complexity of mental health disorders. Likewise, the involvement of those affected in their own care, respecting their autonomy, is an increasingly established value in the care relationship.

To conclude and in summary, the congress served to consider the responses to the significant effects that socioeconomic crises have on mental health and to be prepared to address the traumatic situations that arise from them.