Editorial: El País

• Mental health problems have intensified in Spain, with a growth of 72% since 2020, reaching 643,681 in 2024.
• Women represent the majority (58%) of these work leaves.
• These leaves have an average span of 108 days, being the third longest after tumors and cardiovascular processes.
• Poor working conditions, low wages and constant employee monitoring contribute to these cases of anxiety and depression.
• The sectors with the highest number of leaves are health and education.
• A greater precision in legislation to prevent these problems is demanded.
• Investment in mental health at the health and labor level is necessary, including a notion of safety that encompasses psychological risks.

Conclusion: Spain's growing incidence of mental health issues calls for structural, legislative, and workplace culture changes. The need for interventions deeper than just medicinal treatment is evident.

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