Spain Advances Mental Health Awareness with Teva Awards and Eduardo Casanova's Advocacy

Spain is spotlighting mental health issues through both institutional recognition and public discourse in 2025. The 10th edition of Teva's Humanizing Healthcare Awards, held in Madrid, celebrated a decade of initiatives improving patient care, with a specific focus on mental health this year. Since 2015, 104 projects have been recognized, and this year five initiatives addressing psychosis, childhood sexual abuse survivors, youth with eating disorders, and caregiver stress were awarded €5,000 each. Marta González Casal, General Director of Teva Spain, emphasized the company's commitment to a more humane healthcare approach, saying, "With these awards, we want to highlight and reinforce our commitment to patients suffering from mental disorders and their caregivers, who are often hidden and stigmatized." Rafael Borràs, who was honored at the event, underscored the importance of empathy and making mental health issues visible to destigmatize patients.

Simultaneously, public figure Eduardo Casanova is raising awareness about mental health through his new miniseries 'Silencio', which tackles themes of inclusion and mental illness. Casanova shared his personal experiences with anxiety and the importance of visibilizing mental health struggles. He also highlighted the broader social context, noting the 38 women killed by partners in Spain this year and calling for cultural change to combat patriarchy and misogyny. He expressed surprise at the recent Ministry of Health data showing a historic low in adolescent substance use, advocating for ongoing education on health risks.

Together, these efforts from both institutional and cultural fronts demonstrate Spain's expanding commitment to mental health, combining financial support for innovative projects with public conversations on stigma and care.