Mental health has been the central theme of this year's youth plenary in Torrelodones, where students from various educational centers shared their concerns and suggestions. Young people from 3rd year of ESO from institutions such as Dragon American School, El Encinar, Colegio Peñalar, San Ignacio de Loyola, Los Sauces, and IES Diego Velázquez took the seats of the councilors to address a problem that, although general, particularly affects adolescents.
During the meeting, a student from Dragon American School described the mental health situation as a “national emergency.” This statement aligns with data revealing that 59.3 percent of young people in Madrid experience anxiety problems. This scenario has led to disorientation, exacerbated by intensive social media use and difficulty managing stress.
“"Mental health is one of the great pending issues of our society."
The mayor, who presided over the plenary alongside the Youth Councilor and a UNICEF representative, underscored the relevance of openly discussing this matter. The mayor emphasized that the willingness of young people to discuss these issues and propose solutions is an act of great courage.
The students not only expressed their concerns but also presented various proposals to address them, which were put to a vote. Although some of these initiatives are not directly within the municipal scope, all received majority approval, according to the authorities present.
Among the suggestions, students from Dragon American School proposed emotional education workshops and the regular presence of counselors or psychologists in schools. From El Encinar, the idea of maintaining a sporting spirit throughout the school year and recovering the municipal psychology service was raised. Students from Colegio Peñalar, for their part, devised a healthy leisure program to foster coexistence and workshops to “self-disconnect” from excessive mobile device use.
Representatives from Colegio San Ignacio de Loyola recalled the pandemic's impact on youth mental health and proposed film forums for socializing and debating, in addition to offering parental support. Students from Los Sauces addressed low self-esteem and fear of failure, suggesting group therapy sessions and activities to encourage socialization outside the digital realm. Finally, students from Instituto Diego Velázquez proposed extending local festivities and improving public transport for youth well-being.
The youth plenary in Torrelodones seeks not only to bring democratic institutions closer to young people but also to provide them with a space for their concerns and ideas to be heard by political representatives, thereby promoting their active involvement in social improvement.
