Palabras de Su Majestad la Reina en el acto institucional del “Día Mundial de la Salud Mental 2023”

Link to the news article: https://www.casareal.es/ES/Actividade... Minister of Health, President of the Spanish Confederation for Mental Health, dear Nel, I also extend my greetings, of course, to Jesús Martín, from the Directorate General for Disability, to Luis Cayo, from CERMI, to Miguel Carballeda, from ONCE, and to all of you who work in and are linked to social organizations in the third sector, who are committed to the path of continued improvement in mental health. Good morning to everyone, welcome to this World Mental Health Day. Please tell me, what does this remind you of? "I do what I can, I achieve what I achieve, and it's not healthy to demand so much of myself. The anger and sour faces hurt when I fail at something, but it hurts more when they don't appreciate that I've tried. And I am trying, sorry if I fall short, but why did they think I would do it perfectly all the time?" It wouldn't occur to me to try rapping, out of respect, of course, for the artists of this musical genre, but it does occur to me that perhaps if some media outlet, this afternoon or tomorrow, runs a headline like "The Queen raps for mental health," rapping, in quotes, would be a good way to draw attention back to such an important and serious issue as this. What I've read to you are the words of the rapper, writer, and composer El Chojín, who, along with Edurne Pasabán, are two of the guests. Javi and Rosa, I'll tell you about them shortly, and they will speak with Macarena Berlín. Just recently, on a podcast hosted by Ángel Martín, another artist, actor, and screenwriter who has also done a lot to bring the issue of mental health to the forefront, El Chojín mentioned that he has been on a journey of self-discovery for a long time. It's clear that his lyrics, songs, and books have helped many young people who feel anguish, doubt, or have problems. Edurne Pasabán will also talk to us about all the mountains in her life, which are probably far more numerous than the 14 eight-thousanders she has summited. And we will meet Javi and Rosa, two admirable people who have gone through a very difficult process and have managed to live and even feel happy and at peace without the stigma of having had a mental health issue. On this World Mental Health Day, we will learn more about how to continue working to ensure that the rights of people with mental illnesses are no longer violated. He, the president of the Confederation, and, of course, the minister will tell us about the status of the National Mental Health Strategy. Before we continue, I wanted to share some data from yesterday, from the latest youth barometer on health and well-being compiled by FAD Juventud in conjunction with the Mutua Madrileña Foundation. Congratulations to the Foundation on its 20th anniversary! Two quick statistics: 59.3% of young people reported having experienced some kind of problem in the last year, compared to 28.4% in 2017. This means twice as many young people now consider having had a serious mental health issue. And the other statistic: for the first time, more young people (48.9%) have considered suicide than (47%) have never considered it. You can find this data on the FAD Juventud and Mutua Madrileña Foundation websites in this latest barometer on the health and well-being of our young people. Interesting, revealing, and something to think about. This is a day to reflect on the past 364 days, a day when people with mental health challenges look us in the eye and tell us how we—society, government, and institutions—need to improve. So it's important to listen to understand where action should be taken, because investing in mental health is the guarantee of a more prosperous, fairer, and more equitable future for everyone. We all have limitations, misgivings, fears, and insecurities; we all need tools to cope with life. That's precisely what prevention is about: addressing those needs before they are even possible. Let's listen, then, and understand that without mental health, there is no hope, and any intention of living a fulfilling life is extinguished. Thank you very much, and let's listen. Thank you.