Mental health under strain: Spain lags Europe in access to psychologists - Yahoo News Canada

Mental health in Spain has never been talked about so much. Anxiety, depression, stress, eating disorders and emotional wellbeing have moved from often remaining hidden in the private sphere to becoming topics in family conversations, institutional campaigns, the media and social networks. The silence has been broken. The question now is what happens next, when someone decides to ask for help. Spain has around six clinical psychologists for every 100,000 inhabitants, a figure still far from the European average of about 18 professionals. This shortage has direct consequences for care: waiting lists, appointments spaced weeks or months apart, and difficulties providing the continuity needed for effective psychological treatment. This risks entrenching a two-tier mental healthcare system. Those with the means can turn to a private psychologist and be seen every week or fortnight. By contrast, people who rely solely on the public system may face much longer waits. The question is hard to avoid: is psychological care becoming a luxury reserved for those who can afford it?