The mayor of Benalmádena, Juan Antonio Lara, has proclaimed World Mental Health Day at an event with AFESOL users. This year's campaign focuses on the emotional well-being of youth.
The mayor of Benalmádena, Juan Antonio Lara, has proclaimed this year’s World Mental Health Day in the municipality during an event that highlighted the emotional well-being of young people. The day, celebrated with the presence of the councillor for Social Welfare and Families, Áurea Peralta, and other members of the Municipal Corporation, served to demand more resources and attention for this group.
The mayor emphasized the need to "continue working to strengthen care services and the training of professionals who work with young people," as well as to promote collective responses, advance in emotional education, and facilitate early detection of mental health issues.
This year's campaign is carried out under the slogan 'Match with your mental health', which focuses on a youth facing situations such as social pressure, uncertainty about the future, difficulties in accessing employment and housing, isolation, cyberbullying, or the impact of social media.
"We are more connected than ever, and yet, a young person can feel profoundly alone," noted the mayor, who defended the need to listen to young people, give them a voice, and create safe spaces where they can express themselves and seek help when needed.
During his speech, Juan Antonio Lara highlighted that discussing mental health means talking about "prevention, early detection, emotional education, community support, and opportunities," insisting that "mental health is not just an individual issue, but a responsibility of society as a whole."
The event was attended by the president of AFESOL, Cristian González, and the head of Communication for the entity, Esther García, along with professionals, families, and users. It was the users of AFESOL who read the manifesto for World Mental Health Day 2026, which emphasizes the need to listen to first-person experiences, combat isolation and stigma, and build a healthy, diverse, and inclusive environment for children, adolescents, and young people.
The mayor thanked the work of AFESOL, its professionals, users, and families, and reminded everyone that "behind every diagnosis is a person, with rights, abilities, dreams, and a life project."
The day concluded with a reaffirmation of the municipal commitment to the rights, inclusion, and well-being of people with mental health issues and their families in Benalmádena.
You may also like
