Accessing mental health services

Overview

Mental health support in Spain's public system is accessed primarily through your primary-care doctor, who refers you to a community mental health centre (Centro de Salud Mental) for psychology or psychiatric care. Demand is high in the public system, so it's worth understanding your options, including private alternatives.

Requirements

• You need to be registered for public healthcare to access this route, or hold private insurance for a faster private alternative

Step-by-step process

• Book an appointment with your primary-care doctor and describe what you're experiencing
• If appropriate, your doctor issues a referral to your area's Centro de Salud Mental
• You'll have an initial assessment at the centre, usually with a clinical psychologist or psychiatrist, who determines the appropriate treatment plan
• Attend follow-up appointments as scheduled, whether therapy, medication management, or a combination

Required documents

• Health card (tarjeta sanitaria)
• Referral from your primary-care doctor

Common mistakes

• Not mentioning mental health concerns clearly to your primary-care doctor, assuming it isn't something to raise there — it's the standard and expected entry point
• Assuming public mental health support isn't available at all, when in most regions it is, just with a wait, and urgent situations are prioritised faster

Practical tips

• If your situation feels urgent, say so clearly to your primary-care doctor — urgent mental health referrals are generally prioritised over routine ones
• If public waiting times don't fit your needs, private therapy is widely available and often has much shorter waits — see 'Finding an English-speaking psychologist or therapist'

How Tuchati can help

Tuchati can help you understand the referral process and find options, public or private, that fit your situation and timeline.