Queen Letizia has traveled to Barcelona to take part in a conference on mental health in the workplace and visit a local hospital.
The Queen of Spain arrived in Sant Boi de Llobregat on Wednesday, 23rd November, and was welcomed by local authorities, including the Mayor and the Government Delegate in Catalonia.
The conference, called “Work and Mental Health: 20 years breaking stigma”, was organised by the Healthcare Park Sant Joan de Déu, which operates under the supervision of the Order of the Hospital of Saint John of God (Orden Hospitalaria de San Juan de Dios).
The conference began with interventions from the Mayor of Sant Boi de Llobregat, the General Director of the facility and the acting President of the Economic Development, Tourism and Commerce Area of the municipality of Barcelona.
The host for the day then introduced a discussion, titled “The impact of social media use on mental health”, held by a Sociology professor at the University of Barcelona and a clinical psychologist and writer.
It was then time for Queen Letizia to receive a tour of the innovative facility, which was renovated in 2019 and houses people with mental health conditions and serious behavioural issues, who need a comprehensive treatment plan.
The innovative approach taken by this facility is centred around four main pillars: the involvement of businesses; the renewed centrality of people, both patients and their families; a network of engaged professionals, most of whom have been trained to work specifically in this area; and a renewed focus on the difficulties faced by patients to integrate in the workplace.
At the end of her tour, Queen Letizia held a meeting with the healthcare professionals that work in the facility, as well as family members of people currently admitted in the Specialised Hospitalisation Unit for People with Intellectual Disabilities.
When it came time for the Queen to leave, she was bid farewell by local authorities and the Brothers of the Order of the Hospital of Saint John of God.
Mental health is a topic that has gained significant prominence in the Spanish Queen’s agenda over the past few years. But this field is far from being the only medical area that she shines a spotlight on: from the fight against cancer and rare diseases, to the calls for a healthy and balanced nutrition to be accessible for everyone, Queen Letizia has presided over forums on different aspects of healthcare.
