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Date Published: 18/11/2024

Number of Brits committed to psychiatric facilities in Murcia against their will growing

More and more British experts in the Region of Murcia struggle to access mental health supports

The aftermath of Brexit is taking a toll on the British expat community in Murcia, with a growing number of individuals being committed to psychiatric facilities against their will.

Prosecutor Arantxa Morales highlights the "special vulnerability" of foreign nationals with disabilities or elderly individuals, who often find themselves without access to social and health benefits.

For British citizens in particular, the situation is even more complicated, as they are no longer considered European citizens and must pay for these services out of pocket.

According to the latest report from the Public Prosecutor's Office of the Region, the British population in Murcia has shrunk from 14,600 in 2020 to just over 13,000 today. But as the population ages, this still leaves a huge number of people who may struggle to access the appropriate health services, with the Spanish authorities often reluctant to intervene.

Morales notes that language barriers, along with the bureaucratic red tape, often hinder efforts to provide support to these individuals, and the only option is to commit them so that they will be looked after.

“Throughout the year, it has been necessary to present a written request for support measures, requesting the Murcian Foundation for the Guardianship of Adults to act as a legal defender and guardian,” she explained.

In some cases, relatives in the UK have had to intervene through the embassy to arrange for their loved ones to be transferred to a care facility, but only after these vulnerable people were involuntarily committed.

The situation is not unique to British citizens, however, and countless Russian nationals have found themselves in need of help, but alone in Spain without relatives or friends.

In these cases, “they have eventually had to be institutionalised, as it was the only way to provide them with care and assistance.”

In response, nursing homes and psychiatric centres in the Region of Murcia have reached out to the Public Prosecutor's Office for guidance, leading to the implementation of support measures and, in some cases, the institutionalisation of individuals who require care.

Judicial sources reveal that last year, two British citizens and one Russian national were affected by this issue, while four cases have already been dealt with in 2024.

As the Brexit fallout continues to affect the expat community, it's clear that more needs to be done to support these vulnerable individuals.

In other news: Two Brits dead after drug boat causes crash on La Manga motorway

Image: Freepik

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