Santa Cruz is set to become the inaugural municipality in the Canary Islands to introduce a new initiative within the educational sector, following the formal signing yesterday of a collaboration agreement with the Official College of Psychologists. This agreement aims to provide complementary professional assistance to educators and learners from the 36 primary schools and 14 public secondary schools in the area. The purpose of this groundbreaking initiative, part of the Educasalud project, is to avert mental health issues, including suicide and various behavioural disorders.
The Mayor, José Manuel Bermúdez, elucidated that “this initiative intends to address, beyond the powers related to education, the alarming rise in mental disorders and emotional issues among children and adolescents, in which we will invest 80,000 euros to deliver workshops for both students and teachers. Furthermore, psychological intervention will be facilitated, offering 900 individual sessions for the young individuals who require it.”
The councillor indicated that “the current statistics regarding psychological disorders in youths necessitate immediate action. In the Canary Islands, a recent report by the Anar Foundation for adolescent individuals reveals that mental health concerns are the primary reason for calls made by minors (43.4%). Of these, suicidal thoughts or attempts (27.8%), along with psychological issues (7.6%) and self-harming behaviours (7.1%) are particularly notable.” This worrying data complements findings published by the DISA Foundation at the close of 2024, where a study on the emotional well-being of Canarian adolescents indicated that six out of ten students aged between 14 and 18 report experiencing stress, anxiety, sleep disturbances, depression, and eating disorders.
The Councillor for Social Policies and Education, Charín González, further elaborated that “this project will equip students with essential tools and strategies to enhance their mental health, prevent addictive behaviours, and promote the cultivation of social and emotional skills. It will also provide guidance to educators so they can identify potential warning signs.”
Educasalud, which is set to begin implementation towards the course’s end, with ongoing support for the subsequent year, is divided into two segments: one aimed at prevention, featuring over 390 workshops tailored for students, dealing with topics such as general mental health and suicide; and a second segment consisting of 250 training workshops for teachers, to be coordinated with the respective institutions. Meanwhile, the second phase will concentrate on intervention, offering 900 complimentary individual sessions with psychologists for students in need. González clarified that “the plan is to provide five sessions per case, with the possibility of increasing this number if required. Consequently, we estimate approximately 200 minors will benefit from this professional support. We have taken a significant step forward, as it is essential for classrooms to have access to a psychologist who can attend to the needs of both teachers and students.”
Additionally, the Dean of the College of Psychology, Carmen Linares, highlighted that “suicide is a pressing reality that affects us all, and often we lack the courage to make the necessary decisions. I commend the City Council for recognising the importance of this issue and not retreating behind the notion that it is not within their legal purview. They have taken the initiative to advance prevention and awareness of mental health, focusing on areas overlooked in order to support both teaching staff and students.”
