Benidorm commemorates World Mental Health Day with the reading of a manifesto in the Assembly Hall

Benidorm City Council Assembly Hall has once again hosted the commemoration of World Mental Health Day, which will be held next Sunday, October 10, with an event in which users of Mental Health services, family members have participated and representatives of the municipal corporation headed by the first deputy mayor, Ana Pellicer, and the councilor for Social Welfare, Angela Llorca.
The event was presented by José María Zahonero, president of the Association of Relatives of / and Mentally Ill of the Marina Baixa (AFEM), which has led to the reading of a manifesto by Mercedes Tamarit, member of the board of directors of the Asociation.
In the manifesto, mental health has been defended as a "universal and necessary" attribute, but the "depersonalization of society and the scarcity of opportunities have led to inequality being the dominant image." For this reason, the group has demanded "individualized care plans" and have urged the political powers to "dialogue to know our needs" while claiming "that poverty is not a risk factor."
The manifesto has called for a "consequential investment" so that the right to mental health "does not depend on the place of residence." It has also advocated for tackling "discrimination" against women with mental health problems "with specific care protocols."
Among other claims, the group is committed to introducing emotional education among school activities and to "overcome the barrier of labor inequality" with the application of "stimulus measures."
The event continued with a lecture by Dr. Alberto Gadea, head of the Psychiatry Unit of the Hospital Comarcal de la Marina Baixa with the title "Mental health: Job objective", the projection of a video on mental health in the Marina Baixa and it ended with a lyrical violin recital by Esperanza Verdecia.