Efraín Medina has designed an initiative, with a history in Europe, for healthcare assistance to self-employed workers or owners of micro-SMEs affected by covid-19.
The CC-PNC group in the Cabildo requests in the plenary session this Friday establish an agreement with the College of Psychology “to attend to the mental health of the self-employed affected by the Covid-19». The nationalist councilor Efraín Medina will defend a motion in the plenary session in February to prepare a diagnosis of self-employed workers and owners of SMEs in Tenerife. The request, in addition, “urges the Government of the Canary Islands to expand the Public Employment Offer for the stable hiring of experts in Mental Health Psychology.
Medina proposes “Providing services to self-employed women who are experiencing mental health problems.” The nationalist adviser considers that it is necessary to “respond to a situation that affects many people.” He also explains that the National Council of Psychology of Spain constantly warns of the devastating effects that the pandemic has caused on self-employed people and even many European countries have already approved Mental Health Plans.
The example of Belgium.
The Belgian self-employed minister, David Clarinal, announced last Monday that The State “will fully subsidize eight sessions of psychological therapy for the self-employed who suffer from the coronavirus crisis.” In the case of Belgium, the priority is public aid for self-employed workers, but the need to provide a solution to their mental health is also highlighted. In addition, a psychological helpline has been set up, to which not only those affected can go, but also those who want to alert about the emotional state of a known self-employed person.
affected group.
Medina assesses: “Professionals have warned of the consequences of so much pressure, situations of pessimism and thoughts that are difficult to manage.” He sums it up: “Self-employed people with families, employees, and ongoing debt are having serious mental health issues.” The Canarian Coalition counselor points out that the province’s College of Psychology “does an extraordinary job” recognized by the Ministry of the Interior with the Medal of Merit for its brilliant participation in the volcanic emergency of La Palma. “We have to take advantage of these professionals to deal with a situation that affects many entrepreneurs and freelancers in Tenerife,” he stresses.
Public Offer of Employment.
Efraín Medina points out that it is necessary for the Government of the Canary Islands to extend the Public Job Offer for the stable hiring of experts in Mental Health Psychology and advocates holding an urgent meeting with employers, unions, Public Law entities and third sector associations “to commission a diagnosis on self-employed workers and owners of SMEs in the Island”, explains Efraín Medina. The initiative urges the Government of Spain to accelerate the Mental Health Strategy and make it known to the public and especially to the group of the affected sector.
unaccompanied minors
The Popular Party in the Cabildo has achieved a unanimous agreement to improve resources when assisting unaccompanied migrant minors. The Minister Águeda Fumero has defended this proposal, aimed at “urging the State government and the EU to have adequate resources to guarantee that the rights of foreign minors who arrive in the Canary Islands irregularly are fulfilled”. She reminds Fumero that “in January alone, 2,300 people arrived by boat, through the Atlantic route, 50 of them minors.” The popular councilor adds: “This is an emergency situation and we demand that the State not leave us alone in managing the migration crisis.” Águeda Fumero has been satisfied with “the good predisposition” of all the political groups of the Cabildo to support the proposal of the Popular Party.
