Bill to guarantee mental health rights and public care

Automatic summary, not yet reviewed

1. The bill would guarantee universal access to mental health services through the National Health System, with no discrimination based on any personal or social condition, and special attention to vulnerable groups.
2. It would recognize rights such as comprehensive care, autonomy, informed consent, shared decisions, advance decisions and the appointment of a reference person, plus protection against risky treatments and harm caused by medical care itself.
3. It would set specific rights for children and teenagers, for women with mental health problems and for people with disabilities or at risk of exclusion, including a ban on preventive medicalization of minors and on forced sterilization of women.
4. The bill would set maximum waiting time guarantees and minimum staffing ratios, with at least 18 psychiatrists, 18 clinical psychologists and 23 mental health nurses per 100,000 residents, to be reached gradually over four years.
5. It would create a state suicide prevention protocol, with a free crisis phone line, a suicide data registry and specific training for health, education, emergency and media professionals.
6. It would reduce coercion: it would push to eliminate mechanical restraint, restrict involuntary commitment to cases under an organic laworganic law A law on fundamental rights, the electoral system or other matters the Constitution reserves. It needs an absolute majority in the Congreso: 176 votes. with judicial authorization, and create a State Mental Health Center, a Participation Council and an Ombudsman for people with mental health problems in each autonomous community.

Who it affects

• People with mental health problems: They would gain new rights in their care, such as deciding on their treatment and receiving full information.
• Children and teenagers: They would receive specialized care and protection against preventive medicalization.
• Women with mental health problems: They would get protection from sexist violence and, if they wish, support for motherhood.
• Workers: The bill would require employers to protect workers' mental health as part of workplace risk prevention.
• Health professionals and mental health services: They would have to adapt to new staffing ratios, time guarantees, training and registries.

Words worth knowing

Iatrogenia (iatrogenic harm)

Harm or worsening of health caused by medical care or its treatments themselves.

Contención mecánica (mechanical restraint)

Physically immobilizing a person with straps or other means to restrict their movement.

Documento de Voluntades Anticipadas (advance directives document)

A document where a person states in writing which treatments they accept or refuse in the future, if they can no longer decide.

Ley orgánica (organic law)

A type of Spanish law that requires special majorities in Congress and is reserved for key matters such as fundamental rights.

Consejo Interterritorial del Sistema Nacional de Salud (Interterritorial Council of the National Health System)

Body where the central government and the autonomous communities agree on how public health care is organized across the country.

organic law

A law on fundamental rights, the electoral system or other matters the Constitution reserves. It needs an absolute majority in the Congreso: 176 votes.

It summarizes the text as it was introduced. It is written by artificial intelligence and may contain mistakes: the official text is what counts. Read the official text · How we make summaries