A roundtable discussion on networking kicks off Mental Health Week in Benidorm

A roundtable discussion entitled "The Importance of Networking" was the first event held this Monday in Benidorm for Mental Health Week, organised by the Department of Social Welfare of Benidorm City Council in collaboration with various mental health centres and resources. The councilor for the area, Ángela Zaragozí, noted that this year's theme is "We share vulnerability, let's defend our mental health" and that the objective of these events is, once again, "to demand true equality of rights for people with mental illness and to raise awareness of the various resources, professionals, and associations they can find in our city for their recovery or to achieve a better quality of life."

Casa del Fester Auditorium hosted the first of the program's activities, a roundtable discussion titled "The Importance of Networking." Psychiatrists Armando Oviedo, head of Psychiatry at Marina Baixa Health Department, and Juan del Águila, a psychiatrist at Espiral Therapeutic Centre, participated in the discussion, along with Olga Jiménez, a psychologist, and Sonia Melgar, a social worker, both at the Mental Illness Care and Monitoring Service (SASEM) of Benidorm City Council.

Zaragozí explained that the program "will continue tomorrow, Tuesday, October 7, with a walk for Mental Health Day, where we will commemorate the motto 'Mental health is every day of the year,' and which will run along the paths of the El Moralet urban park." It will begin at 10:00 a.m.

On Wednesday, October 8th, at 11:00 a.m., a discussion on "First-Person Mental Health Recovery Experiences" will take place in Casa del Fester Auditorium. In the afternoon, starting at 7:30 p.m., in the Town Hall Auditorium, the play "PIM! PAM! PUM! If there are crickets, there is hope" will be performed by the La Máquina Teatro company, with free admission until capacity is reached.

On Friday, October 10th, World Mental Health Day, the Manifesto will be read starting at 12 noon. In addition, the City Hall Auditorium will also host two lectures organised by AFEM: one on "Financing Mental Health Resources" and another entitled "Early Detection," led by Dr Armando Oviedo.
Finally, at 2:00 p.m., a Mental Health Day lunch will be held at the Cristal Park Hotel for AFEM members, guests, and collaborators, priced at €15 per person.

In addition, from October 14th to 24th, the City Hall Art Space will host the "Menssana" exhibition.

Ángela Zaragozí reiterated Benidorm City Council's "support for the people, associations, and resources working to promote mental health" and invited all those interested in participating in the activities of this Mental Health Week to offer their support to those affected and to this cause.