Santa Cruz to Launch Homeless Mental Health Outreach

The Canary Islands Government's Mental Health Department plans to launch a new street outreach service in Santa Cruz de Tenerife between March and April. This service will help homeless people struggling with addiction and mental health issues. The idea comes from a request by the city council, aiming to copy a successful program already running in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.

The main goal of this program is to offer direct health support and care to homeless individuals dealing with these conditions. It aims to help them access healthcare, which they often can't get otherwise. The plan involves connecting the existing healthcare system with social workers who will travel in mobile units to reach those most in need. Essentially, it seeks to bridge the gap between mental health services and local social services, creating a vital link for people who don't use regular services on their own.

Carlos Tarife, the city council's Health Councillor, first asked for these specific services in Santa Cruz last October. He raised concerns about the city center, where residents, shopkeepers, and restaurant owners have complained about the presence of people with mental health issues, calling for ongoing medical help for them. Tarife stressed that Santa Cruz needs to address this problem as quickly as Las Palmas de Gran Canaria did, ensuring fair access to services for both capital cities.

While Councillor Tarife has said there's been no response so far, officials from the regional government disagree. They state that the city council was informed about the project's launch.

The Las Palmas program, called "Mejora," was launched by the Ministry of Health last November and developed by the Yrichen Foundation. This 30,000-euro initiative uses mobile units to bring healthcare directly to people who need it. It involves social workers who travel around to assess individuals and help them get into care or therapy programs. These professionals work closely with the Public Health Department, local social services, police, and community mental health groups to decide the best approach for each person, whether that's hospital admission, ongoing support, or referral to other services.