Mental health is also a matter of territory

When we talk about mental health, we often think of psychologists, psychiatrists, hospitals, and medication. All these resources are essential and necessary. But the reality is that mental health begins long before a person needs a consultation or treatment.Mental health also does not depend exclusively on biological or individual factors. There is growing scientific consensus that emotional well-being is influenced by the conditions in which we live: housing, working conditions, economic situation, social relationships, mobility, and the quality of the environment, among others. Mental health is also built, or deteriorated, from the factors that surround us every day.The World Health Organization has been insisting on this idea for years. The so-called social determinants of health have a decisive influence on people's well-being. Therefore, when we talk about mental health, we are also talking about housing, work, social cohesion, territory, and quality of life.In the Balearic Islands, this debate takes on special relevance. Tourism represents a fundamental part of our economy and generates thousands of direct and indirect jobs. Without tourism, the economic and social reality of our islands cannot be understood. In fact, activities directly or indirectly linked to the tourism sector represent 85% of our country's gross domestic product.Precisely because it is so important, we must be able to analyze all its impacts. Not only the economic benefits, but also the consequences it can have on the living conditions of the people who live and work here.In recent years, Mallorca has undergone a profound transformation. Each season breaks visitor records while a growing part of the population expresses concern about access to housing, mobility problems, congestion of public spaces, and the rising cost of living.These concerns are not just urban or economic issues. They are also health issues.Scientific literature shows that the perception of saturation, the loss of control over the daily environment, the difficulty in accessing basic resources, and the feeling of constant pressure on the territory can affect the quality of life and increase the stress levels of the resident population.The time we spend in a deadlock. The uncertainty regarding the renewal of a rental contract. The impossibility of accessing housing. The feeling that the spaces of our daily life are no longer accessible. None of these factors alone explains the mental health problems a person suffers from. But when they accumulate, they generate an emotional wear and tear that we cannot ignore.This debate is especially relevant if we consider the evolution of work absences related to mental health. According to recent data, absences for this reason have increased very significantly in recent years, while anxiety has consolidated as one of the main reasons for temporary incapacity, especially among young people.What impact do current living conditions have on this increase in emotional distress?There is no single answer or automatic relationship between tourism and mental health. It would be an unfair and incorrect simplification. But it would also be a mistake to ignore that the conditions arising from the pressure the territory endures can influence factors that science identifies as determinants of psychological well-being.For a long time we have measured the success of a territory through the number of visitors, overnight stays and the income generated. They are important indicators, but they are probably no longer sufficient.Perhaps the time has come to incorporate new questions into public debate. How does the economic model affect the quality of life of residents? How should we manage it? And within the scope of management, how do we incorporate the emotional well-being of people? How can we improve the living conditions of the people who live and work in Mallorca?When we talk about mental health, we don't just have to look at what's happening inside people. We also have to look at what's happening around them. And this includes housing, mobility, working conditions, the territorial model, and the pressure that an island like Mallorca endures.Talking about mental health is talking about rights, dignity, and quality of life. But it is also talking about housing, work, territory, and community.Because a healthy island is not just an island that generates wealth. It is also an island where you can live well.And the possibility of living well there is, probably, one of the best mental health policies we can build as a society.