Community mental health: the key role of cooperatives and the social economy

In their lifetime, one out of every eight people will experience a mental disorder of some description, according to the World Health Organisation, which estimates a figure of 1,000 million people suffering from these problems at present, making it into a priority matter that requires innovative answers and new approaches. 

Accordingly, it should be mentioned that in the current context talking about mental health no longer solely implies talking about disorders, treatments or psychiatry. Tackling this problem has evolved towards a wide-reaching, preventive approach, which considers emotional wellbeing as a group construction. In this transformation, healthcare cooperatives and social economy entities are playing an increasingly decisive.

This organisational model, characterised by its dedication to service, its participative management and the reinvestment of profits in the improvement of the system itself, naturally aligns itself with the principles of community mental healthcare. Going beyond consultations and diagnosis, this system offers accompaniment, spaces for inclusion and above all, real alternatives to a strictly clinical approach.

Prevention is a key element

One of the essential focal points of the action is prevention. Far from acting only when the disease shows itself, the social economy entities promote care from early stages and in everyday contexts: school, family, district, work. 

They do this through awareness programmes, group workshops, cultural activities and empowerment spaces where mental health is treated without labels and stigmas. This approach becomes particularly relevant amongst the most vulnerable groups: young people, older people, women, the homeless or people with disabilities. 

Many initiatives work from the areas of art, technology or peer support to strengthen the person’s self-esteem, to help them get their own voices back and to rebuild their life projects. These entities bring a comprehensive look that covers housing, employment, social relations and a feeling of belonging.

Immersive reality for vulnerable young people

Additionally, the innovation capacity for these organisations is worth mentioning. Some of them are using tools such as immersive reality to work with young people who are in vulnerable situations, generating safe spaces where they can experience emotions, develop coping skills and practice their independence in a progressive way. Without replacing the clinical approach when necessary, these proposals complement it in a significant and creative way.

One of the main challenges continues to be funding. Many of these initiatives depend on state subsidies to a large extent, a fact that involves a high level of uncertainty and limits their long-term planning capacity. In order to guarantee their sustainability, they must diversify their income sources, promoting collaborative funding models and explicitly acknowledging the social value that they generate.

Models that have shown their efficiency

Outside our borders, initiatives such as the Recovery Colleges or the integrated community care models have already shown their efficiency, combining social, healthcare and educational services and recognising the transforming role of the experience. Spain has a rich ecosystem of social entities prepared for adapting them and even improving on these initiatives.

In short, strengthening community mental healthcare is not just a question of extending the offer of services. It is, above all, a question of approach. And in this paradigm shift, cooperatives and social economy entities are not a complement, but rather a lever. Acknowledging their role, endowing them with stable resources and backing their innovation is probably one of the most effective strategies for building a society that is mentally healthier, fairer and more cohesive.