New Initiatives Enhance Children's Mental Health Support in Spanish Schools
Spain advances children's mental health support with school nurses and mental health story contests to reduce stigma.
- • Demand for school nurses in all educational centers to address rising mental health issues and student self-harm.
- • Survey shows 65.9% of school nurses know students who self-harm, emphasizing need for intervention.
- • Balearic Islands release winning stories from children's mental health contest, distributing 1,000 copies to schools and libraries.
- • The fourth edition of the story contest invites submissions until March 29, promoting mental health awareness across age groups.
Key details
Spanish educational and health authorities are stepping up efforts to bolster mental health support for children and adolescents through two key initiatives. Firstly, there is a strong call for the introduction of school nurses in every educational center across Spain, aimed at early detection, prevention, and management of mental health issues among young students. This demand comes against the backdrop of rising incidents of self-harm and related mental health challenges among minors. A study by Universidad Rey Juan Carlos revealed that over half of minors and nearly 80% of young adults aged 18-30 have known someone who engaged in self-harm. A joint survey by SATSE and ANPE highlighted that 65.9% of school nurses are already aware of students who have self-harmed. Advocates emphasize the vital role school nurses can play in identifying risk factors like substance abuse and bullying and in facilitating early intervention through collaboration with educators and health professionals, ensuring schools become safe and health-promoting environments.
Complementing these efforts, the Balearic Islands Government has released the winning stories from the third edition of its mental health and emotional well-being children's story contest, designed to normalize discussions around mental health and reduce stigma. Presented by Manuela García, Consellera de Salud, and Antoni Vera, Conseller de Educación y Universidades, the initiative distributes 1,000 copies of each winning story to libraries and primary schools, targeting children aged 6 to 8. The stories are beautifully illustrated by students from the School of Design and the School of Art of the Balearic Islands, with a dedicated exhibition launched concurrently. The program supports the wider Strategic Plan for Emotional Well-Being and Mental Health (2025-2030), focusing on rights, humanized care, and stigma reduction. The contest continues to invite entries for its fourth edition until March 29, offering categories for children, youth, and adults.
Together, these complementary measures highlight Spain's commitment to making mental health care an integral part of educational settings and public awareness, addressing a critical health issue with creative and practical solutions.
This article was translated and synthesized from Spanish sources, providing English-speaking readers with local perspectives.
