Spain's Partido Popular proposes €700M mental health overhaul with 10,000 new hires

Spain’s opposition Partido Popular has unveiled a national mental health plan. The proposal seeks to tackle long waiting times and improve access to specialist care in the public system. The plan outlines annual funding of between €500 million and €700 million. This investment would recruit 10,000 new professionals, including 2,000 psychiatrists, 3,000 psychologists, and 5,000 mental health nurses.

A key focus is on children, adolescents, and young adults. The proposal aims to spot early signs of mental health struggles and expand suicide prevention measures. It also includes more training for healthcare workers.

Better coordination between primary care, specialist units, and hospitals is part of the strategy. With more staff, the party believes pressure on existing services would ease. This could lead to quicker assessments and treatment for patients. The proposed plan would inject up to €700 million yearly into mental health services. It targets improved care access and reduced delays across Spain. The additional professionals are expected to strengthen the public healthcare system’s capacity.