Humanization in mental health plans in Spain

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Healthcare Management
• Mental Health Services Research

Background:

• Mental health (MH) care faces significant challenges, particularly concerning humanization.
• There is a need to assess current humanization efforts within Spanish MH plans.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify humanization measures in the MH plans of Spanish autonomous communities (AC).
• To analyze the implementation status of these measures.
• To determine priorities for future humanization development in MH care.

Main Methods:

• A modified Delphi method incorporating "design thinking" was used.
• A multidisciplinary group of MH care professionals participated in a three-phase consensus process.
• Methods included identifying measures, analyzing implementation, and prioritizing future actions.

Main Results:

• 14 out of 17 AC have current MH plans containing humanization measures.
• Measures focused on quality improvement, user participation, anti-stigma campaigns, and vulnerable population care.
• Implementation varied widely (6.3% to 100%), averaging 64.1%; priority proposals include campaigns, forums, support platforms, education, and curriculum integration.

Conclusions:

• While some MH plans address humanization, their inclusion is often partial.
• Implementing identified humanization strategies is essential for achieving high-quality MH care.
• Further development is needed to fully integrate humanization into MH services.