Mental health is incredibly important. We openly acknowledge the mind-body connection and may even seek balance in our daily lives. But what happens when something goes wrong, when balance is not achieved? It’s alarming to be diagnosed with a disease like cancer. When it happens we seek immediate medical care. But when our minds are not functioning to the best of their capability, silence seems to be the easiest and most conventional approach.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), mental, neurological and substance use disorders make up 10% of the global disease burden today. In its 2022 World Mental Health Report, the WHO stated that a staggering one billion people (more than one in eight adults and adolescents) worldwide have a mental disorder. Depression and anxiety are the largest groups, but also developmental disorders, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, schizophrenia, bipolar and conduct disorders affect millions of people worldwide.
Stress, anxiety and depression can have a profound impact on our daily lives both at work and at home, yet we rarely talk about it. All too often we minimize our pain and discomfort—both to ourselves and the outside world—because of the stigma that surrounds talking about mental health problems. This stigma is not new. It has been around as long as the problem has. While significant inroads have been made to educate the public about mental health, the burden of shame and discomfort that comes with talking openly about these issues still persist.
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As the WHO reports, “misunderstandings and the stigma surrounding mental health are widespread. Despite the existence of effective treatments for mental disorders, there is a belief that they are untreatable or that people with mental disorders are difficult, not intelligent, or incapable of making decisions.” Because of the stigma and stereotypes that surround mental health problems, people suffering from them frequently isolate themselves and often do not seek help. A common fear that sufferers harbor is that they will be blamed for their disease and become social misfits, alienated from their peers or family members.
The Numbers in Catalunya
In 2017, over 200,000 individuals sought mental health care in Catalunya. Of those, 39.4% of women and 23.7% men were diagnosed with depression. Additionally, attention deficit disorder and anxiety were also prevalent in the region. Though Catalunya is considered to have a more open approach to conversation on mental health than other areas of Spain, there is still a great deal of shame in talking about problems related to the mind.
“We are living in a society where it is okay to say you have cancer or diabetes, but you’re having trouble saying that you’re anxious or depressed and what I’d like to make people aware of is that this trouble is unnecessary,” says Emma Ruiz, a Gestalt Therapist based in Barcelona. “You can find a professional to help you get aligned with who you are and lead a better life and not necessarily just when you have a “big” problem.”
Emma is of the opinion, that just like we nourish our bodies and exercise to keep our physical health in order, our minds too, need nourishment and care. Seeking help and talking about it is the first step to breaking the stigma. All we have to do is take the plunge and take advantage of the resources available to us in our community. Seeking help can have an enormous impact on our mental health, making us healthier, happier people as we pursue our daily goals.
How is Mental Health Care Accessed in Barcelona?
The core package of the Spanish National Health System (Sistema Nacional de Salud, SNS) covers mental health care. If you wish to see a mental health care professional you first need to speak with your general practitioner (GP). With a preliminary diagnosis, your GP will refer you to a mental health specialists.
Locals and foreign nationals alike have access to this system, however, for foreigners, accessing mental health care through the SNS is often complicated by the language barrier as well as an unfamiliarity with how the health care system here works.
“Social security is harder to access by expats because of the language challenge and since there is a big expat community in Barcelona, there are other associations that have developed,” says Ruiz. "It’s all about asking for help.”
If you aren’t confident in your ability to express yourself in the local language or if going through the SNS system seems overwhelming to you, there are a number of private mental health-care providers in the city. Some of these include:
- Expat Therapy Barcelona, expattherapybarcelona.com
- Gestalt Therapy in Barcelona, gestalttherapyinbarcelona.com
- Hestía—Barcelona Nest, hestia.es
- Mind and Soul Therapy, mindandsoul.world
- Therapy in Barcelona, therapyinbarcelona.com
In addition to seeking help from a mental health-care professional, you can also begin to nurture your mind on your own. There is a wide array of activities that can help you boost your energy level and increase your productivity including: yoga, meditation, running or walking and taking art classes or learning how to dance or play an instrument.
Your mind, just like any other part of your body, deserves the right kind of care to achieve maximum productivity. If it seems like you’re caught in a loop of “really bad days” or you feel that there is something you need to address, don’t hesitate. Take the first step towards health and get the help you need. Your well-being, your happiness, and the happiness of those around you depend on it.
In case of emergencies, contact Teléfono de la Esperanza at 112, which is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, allowing callers to discuss a range of challenges from trauma and suicide to relationship issues. The help line can also be reached by calling +34 717 003 717.
Published November 13, 2019, updated May 1, 2025.