Queen Letizia of Spain took part in the institutional event that preceded the World Mental Health Day celebration on 10 October.
Her Majesty arrived at the Impact Hub Piamonte in Madrid and was welcomed by the Minister of Health, Carolina Darias, and the President of the Confederation for Mental Health Spain, Nel González Zapico.
The event began with a musical number by the band Nena Daconte, who sang their new piece, “Detrás de cada cuz” (Behind every light). In her book “Tenía tanto que darte” (“I had so much to give you”), the singer recently opened up about the mental health struggles she faced in her life after being eliminated straight away from a singing competition and discovering that she was suffering from stage anxiety.
It was then time for Queen Letizia to deliver her speech, highlighting the importance of starting conversations about mental health and the role played by media and social media platforms in spreading the word about resources that can help young people figure out the best course of action for themselves.
At the beginning of her speech, Her Majesty remembered her recent trip to New York, during which she sat for several roundtables about mental health in youth and teenagers, who told her about the issues they face in tackling their mental health. “I am not sick nor crazy; I am a person that has to coexist with a mental issue that affects me in certain situations in my life, but not 100% of what I experience every day,” the Queen recalled a young participant telling her.
She said: “This, let’s call it boom of conversations around mental health could be, has to be the beginning of the collective answer that is needed in the societies we live in. Let’s wish for it to be so”, adding, “Also Stephen Hawking, the brilliant scientist, left it written ‘Mankind’s greatest achievements have come about by talking, and its greatest failures by not talking.’ Therefore, thank you to all of you who are here today to meet again and keep moving forward.”
It was then time for mental health association authorities to take the stage, and the public had a chance to listen to interventions by the President of the Spanish Mental Health Confederation and representatives from the Pro Mental Health Committee and the State Women Network, who read the Manifesto for World Mental Health Day.
After the Health Minister’s speech, the event concluded with an interview with Mai Meneses, the lead singer for Nena Daconte, before the band performed their songs “Idiota” and “Tenía tanto que darte.”
Before leaving the hub, Her Majesty held a meeting with everyone participating in the event.
Queen Letizia is taking part in all these mental health conferences as Honorary President of UNICEF Spain. She was named Defender for Childhood and Youth Mental Health this past April.
This year, World Mental Health Day will have the theme “Give a Like for Mental health. For the right to grow up and well-being,” putting the focus on the most vulnerable age groups and all of the communities they are a part of, as well as the collective work that has to be done to ensure a healthy environment for everyone’s emotional development.
