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If you experience symptoms of depression, it's important to know which healthcare resource to contact. In the public system, the entry points for mental health care are Primary Care and Emergency Departments. From there, the professional who sees you can guide you on the next steps.
The exact care pathway changes depending on how severe the depression is and on how it is treated within Spainโs public healthcare system.
The first step in most cases: your family doctor
If you notice symptoms of depression, such as persistent sadness, apathy, insomnia, or lack of energy, the most practical thing to do is make an appointment with your doctor. You don't need to arrive with a diagnosis; simply mentioning that you're concerned about your mood is enough.
During the appointment, your family doctor will listen to your concerns, review your medical history, and may ask you questions about your sleep, appetite, alcohol or other substance use, and how all of this is affecting your daily life. They will also assess whether there might be an underlying physical problem and decide if tests or analyses are necessary.
Depending on the severity, they may offer follow-up in Primary Care, recommend changes to your routine, suggest psychotherapy, assess medication, or refer you to a clinical psychologist or psychiatrist in the public system, or recommend consulting your insurance if you prefer the private route.
If it's an emergency, call 112 or go to the emergency room.
If, in addition to sadness, you experience thoughts of self-harm, feelings that life isn't worth living, or even concrete plans for suicide, this is a potential emergency. In that case, don't wait for your next appointment: call 112 or go directly to the nearest emergency room.
There they can assess your safety, perform a basic psychopathological evaluation and decide if a psychiatric evaluation or subsequent mental health follow-up is appropriate.
When the suffering feels overwhelming but there is no immediate danger, you can call the 024 Suicidal Behaviour Hotline , a free national number answered by trained professionals who offer emotional support and, if needed, can alert 112. While help is on the way, try not to be alone and talk to someone you trust about what you are going through.
This text is for informational purposes only and does not replace the advice of a healthcare professional. Always follow your doctor's instructions.
