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There’s more good news for public healthcare in Andalucía this week. Hot on the heels of the announcement that 36,500 extra healthcare workers will be hired across Andlaucía this summer, the region is now set to receive over 40 million euros in fresh funding to improve mental health care, prevent suicide and upgrade local primary care services.

 

The new measures, approved by the Council of Ministers on Tuesday June 3, are part of a wider national strategy to strengthen public healthcare systems across Spain. In total, 56.8 million euros will be distributed among the regions to support mental health and suicide prevention programmes. Andalucía will receive just over 10.3 million euros of that amount.

 

Of this, 7.1 million euros is earmarked for enhancing mental health services, including more staff, better access for vulnerable groups and expanded community-based support. A further 3.2 million euros will be used to implement Andalucía’s first-ever Suicide Prevention Plan, which will run from 2025 to 2027.

 

This new investment builds on other recent efforts to ease pressure on the health system, including the summer recruitment plan mentioned above [previous article], and offers a welcome sign that more long-term support is on the way.

 

The national Mental Health Action Plan, approved in April, outlines eight key areas for improvement. These include increasing the number of trained professionals, promoting alternatives to hospitalisation such as crisis centres and home care, and expanding programmes for addiction prevention and perinatal mental health. Resources will also go toward training on the appropriate use of psychiatric medication and improving access for those in socially or economically vulnerable situations.

 

At the same time, a further 17.83 million euros has been allocated nationwide to support suicide prevention. Andalucía’s share, 3.2 million euros, will help fund awareness campaigns to reduce stigma, especially among older people, LGBTQI+ communities and those at risk of social exclusion. The plan also includes adapting emergency rooms in general hospitals to make them more accessible and welcoming during mental health crises.

 

In a parallel move, the government has also approved a 172.4 million euro package for improvements in Primary and Community Care. Andalucía will receive nearly 31 million euros from this fund, which aims to expand diagnostic services, modernise clinical equipment and cut down on bureaucracy in day-to-day healthcare.

 

All of this new funding will come from the Ministry of Health’s 2025 budget, and will be coordinated through the Interterritorial Council of the National Health System. Regional governments, including Andalucía’s, will be responsible for putting the resources into action on the ground.

 

For residents, this investment marks another step forward in strengthening healthcare across the region, not just for the busy summer period, but for the future of public health in Andalucía.

 

 

Image: Open Arms Initiative/Pixabay