Psychology and
Mental Health
ALBERTO LEAL CRESPO
History of Mental Health in Spain
 70’s
and before (I):
 Dictatorship
 It
in Spain
causes a huge delay in social progress.
 Mental
health associated with charity
History of Mental Health in Spain
 70’s
and before (II):
 Social
isolation of people with psychiatric
disorders
 Not
integrated into the public health system
like other specialties
History of Mental Health in Spain
 80’s
and 90’s (I):
 Community
reference
Mental Health Act (Kennedy, 1963) as
 1985:
Report of the Ministerial Commission for
Psychiatric Reform.
 Integration
of psychiatry (1986)
History of Mental Health in Spain
 80’s
and 90’s (II):
 Multi-disciplinary
 Outpatient
approach to mental disease
treatment
History of Mental Health in Spain
 80’s
and 90’s (II):
 Care
for children, adolescents, the elderly and
drug addicts.
 Clinical
1998)
Psychology becomes a specialty (PIR,
History of Mental Health in Spain
 From

00’s until 2020:
Lack of resources (great inequality with respect
to other EU countries)
 Problems
of Psychiatric reform
History of Mental Health in Spain
 From
 The
00’s until 2020:
figure of the health psychologist is created (2014).
 Treatments
in general public system, social services
and in the private sector
History of Mental Health in Spain
 At
present:
 COVID-19!

Great increase in social awareness.
 Huge
increase in demand of Psychological
assistance
 Mental
health at the center of the debate