Homeless Man With Schizophrenia Admitted to Tenerife Psychiatric Hospital
Homeless man Francisco, suffering from paranoid schizophrenia, has finally been admitted to Febles Campos Psychiatric Hospital in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, highlighting the complex challenges of assisting individuals with severe mental illness on the streets.
Francisco, a homeless man from Santa Cruz de Tenerife suffering from paranoid schizophrenia, has finally been admitted to Febles Campos Psychiatric Hospital. This positive development was reported by DIARIO DE AVISOS. His case shows how difficult it can be to help homeless people with serious mental illnesses, as there's often a conflict between protecting them and respecting their personal freedom.
Francisco, 65, had been known to the City Council's Mobile Outreach Unit (UMA) since 2020, following many public reports about his struggles. Even after being admitted to special care centers and the University Hospital of the Canary Islands in 2024, he always chose to return to the streets. His illness caused him to act disruptively in public places like Plaza de España and Avenida 3 de Mayo. He also had trouble moving around and suffered from wounds on his hands and feet.
Social services initially faced obstacles due to a decision from the Public Prosecutor's Office. In September 2025, the Prosecutor's Office closed a case started by the City Council earlier that year, which had sought permission to intervene. The Prosecutor's Office stated there wasn't enough objective reason to force help on Francisco without his consent, though they did allow for voluntary admission if his condition worsened. Eventually, after first going to Hospital Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria, he was successfully moved to a specialized center for full treatment. What happens next with his legal guardianship will be decided based on medical and legal advice.
Francisco's situation is not unique. From January to August last year, Santa Cruz de Tenerife helped 700 homeless people. More than half of these individuals came from other towns, and one in three had been diagnosed with mental health issues or addictions. Because of this, Mayor José Manuel Bermúdez has repeatedly asked for help from other authorities, like the Island Council (Cabildo) and the Canary Islands Government. He argues that this problem is too big for the city alone to handle.
Naum, 47, is in a similar predicament. Also from Tenerife's capital, he was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and a personality disorder in 2008. After months without proper medical care, Naum camped outside Febles Campos last November, demanding to be admitted – a story also reported by DIARIO DE AVISOS. Following a relapse that led him to Hospital Nuestra Señora de La Candelaria and a short time in temporary housing, he ended up back on the street. He is now waiting for a spot in a social-health center.
To address this increasing need, Health Minister Esther Monzón announced the "Puentes en Salud" (Bridges in Health) program on March 1. This pilot project, already running in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, is now expanding to Tenerife through a partnership with the NGO Doctors of the World. Its goal is to offer specialized medical care directly to homeless people with mental health issues on the streets. Ministry sources say the program is currently in an early stage, figuring out the best way to provide care. Mobile units are expected to start their work this month.