Changes in Mental Health Demand

The progressive sensitisation of scientific and legal disciplines to the social and cultural determinants that influence psychological well-being corresponds to the equally gradual change in the demand for mental health expressed by citizens. No longer, or not only, is there a need for the treatment of individual suffering by designated specialists, but also—and this is crucial—a personal and collective desire to inhabit caring social spaces inspired by the ideal of harmonious coexistence, which institutions at all levels have a responsibility to promote.

As they are exposed to the change in demands, requests, and needs from people regarding their mental health, professionals in the psychological sector also face a significant transformation. The demand for mental health can no longer be confined to the clinical-diagnostic dimension alone but reflects a broader social, cultural, and existential change. People are not only asking for treatment for distress but are bringing to the forefront the need for well-being, prevention, and a more integrated approach to their life experience. Moreover, like all health professions, mental health professions are affected by the "long tail" of changes in professional relationships and service delivery models. Multidisciplinary and multi-actor intervention models urge mental health professionals to move beyond the individualistic logic of their intervention, promoting shared responsibility in the construction of more inclusive and integrated care systems that involve various professional figures and community resources. The multidisciplinary approach, with its emphasis on the totality of the experience of distress and well-being, challenges the traditional model of psychological service understood as an isolated and circumscribed act, instead favouring the construction of support networks and communities that value diverse resources.

This model emphasises the integration of services and professional expertise within the territory, creating a meta-model that allows for continuous exchange of knowledge and acts as a protective factor for both professionals, who can rely on structured support, and patients, who receive more coherent and personalised assistance. In this scenario, the evolution of mental health demand becomes an opportunity to rethink intervention methods, moving beyond the isolation of individual competencies and developing more articulated responses capable of addressing the complex needs of the present.

Towards an Ecological, Relational, and Aesthetic Health

The challenges of psychosocial health continue to develop along two parallel tracks —clinical and social— which too often struggle to meet and engage in dialogue. To adequately respond to legal-legislative and scientific directives, it becomes essential to strengthen the integration between clinical and community interventions, promoting a broader and more systemic vision of mental health. This implies a shift that can be articulated around four key concepts:

Psychosocial health as a public good

It is necessary to conceive of psychosocial health as a collective right, which goes beyond the notion of intervention limited to the individual to assume a global value. Considering psychosocial well-being as a public investment means recognising its wide-ranging impact, with effects that extend beyond the individual citizen and influence the social and community fabric as a whole.

Psychologically sensitive living environments

The knowledge gained in the clinical and social fields must be transferred to the design of living environments that promote the psychological well-being of those who inhabit them. This entails rethinking spaces, work contexts, communities, and services in ways that are conducive to mental health, integrating practices and policies that actively promote its value.

Multidimensional and multifaceted intervention infrastructure

The promotion of psychosocial health requires an integrated action system capable of effectively relating to various public and private actors. It is essential to construct an intervention architecture that overcomes fragmentation, favouring coordination between mental health professionals, social services, institutions, businesses, and informal support networks.

An aesthetic of psychosocial health

It is necessary to complement the medicalised dimension of psychological health with an aesthetic and artistic perspective that recognizes the importance of experiences related to pleasure, creativity, beauty, and social fulfilment. Psychological well-being is not only nourished through individual experiences, but also through the possibility of cultivating hobbies, passions, leisure time, and diverse pursuits that contribute to giving meaning and quality to people's lives.