Spain Advances Mental Health Awareness Through Expert Dialogue and Public Exhibition

In Spain, early 2026 marks renewed efforts to enhance mental health awareness and advocacy, notably through expert discussions and a public photography exhibition highlighting mental health as a fundamental right.

Renowned Spanish psychiatrist Enrique Rojas recently addressed pressing mental health issues affecting both young people and adults. In a discussion focusing on young people's experiences of loneliness, depression, love, and happiness, Rojas emphasized the critical need to differentiate between sadness and clinical depression. He offered practical advice on achieving happiness and nurturing healthy romantic relationships, providing the public with deeper insight into coping strategies and mental health management.

Concurrently, Amnistía Internacional is hosting "La salud mental es un derecho," a photography exhibition running from February 2 to February 28 at Madrid's Biblioteca Luis Martín-Santos. This exhibition showcases 15 winning and finalist photographs from the #SaludmentalEsDerecho contest, part of the Derechos en el objetivo program. The initiative aims to raise awareness about mental health as a fundamental human right, underscoring the necessity to bolster primary care within Spain's health system to achieve sustainable universal health coverage.

Visitors to the exhibition benefit from four informative panels detailing the legal framework surrounding mental health rights at both international and national levels. The displays also highlight significant deficits in health investment and their impacts on individuals, particularly healthcare workers and youth, accentuating the human cost of underfunded mental health services.

Together, these initiatives reflect Spain's commitment to addressing mental health challenges comprehensively, combining expert insights with visually powerful public engagement to foster greater understanding and promote mental health rights.