Spain's Partido Popular Proposes €700M Mental Health Overhaul to Fix Care Gaps

Spain’s opposition Partido Popular has unveiled a national mental health plan. Led by Alberto Núñez Feijóo, the proposal seeks to address gaps in the country’s public healthcare system. It aims to expand access to psychiatric and psychological care across Spain. The plan proposes annual funding of between €500 million and €700 million. This investment would recruit 10,000 additional professionals, including 2,000 psychiatrists, 3,000 psychologists and 5,000 mental health nurses. If implemented, the increase in staffing could shorten waiting times and improve specialist access.

The proposal prioritises rural areas to tackle disparities in mental health professional availability. It also focuses on children, adolescents and young adults, aiming to detect early signs of mental health issues and speed up referrals to specialists.

Additional measures include expanded suicide prevention programmes and extra training for frontline healthcare workers. The plan further intends to ease pressure on existing health structures and streamline patient pathways through the system. The funding would support a significant expansion of mental health services. It aims to reduce waiting times, improve rural access and enhance care for young people. The plan’s success would depend on its implementation within the public healthcare system.