Mental health specialist nurse Marta Ruiz Hernández has detailed a new digital screening project called Sense across Quirónsalud hospitals in Spain to identify youth distress early. The initiative connects healthcare providers directly with educational centers to detect mental health risks before they develop into full crises.
The rollout comes alongside alarming health statistics regarding adolescents both globally and in Spain. World Health Organization data indicates that one in seven young people aged 10 to 19 experiences a mental health condition, with depression and anxiety among the top causes of illness and disability in this age group.
In Spain, official figures show that approximately 11 people die by suicide every day across youth and adult populations. Ruiz Hernández emphasized that behind each death are families and life plans, representing an urgent need to detect and treat emotional distress at an earlier stage.
Adolescent mental health challenges in Spain
Survey data from UNICEF highlights the scale of unaddressed psychological distress among Spanish teenagers. In a survey conducted by the children's agency in Spain, 41 percent of interviewed adolescents reported having experienced, or believing they experienced, a mental health problem during the past year.
Despite widespread public discussion surrounding psychological well-being, many young people continue to suffer without support. Among the surveyed teens who identified mental health difficulties, more than one in three had not spoken to anyone about their situation, and over half had not requested help.
Ruiz Hernández pointed out that while open discussions about anxiety, depression, and suicide have increased in classrooms, media, and homes, talking more about mental health has not automatically translated into effective care. She observed that stigma persists in altered forms, leaving people reluctant to admit when they require assistance.
Historically, mental health remained relegated to the background for decades, with individuals experiencing emotional struggles in silence or shame. Ignorance, fear, and social stigma contributed for years to hiding a health reality that is now understood to be an essential part of overall well-being.
The Sense project and early screening in schools
To bridge the gap between early distress and professional intervention, several hospitals in the Quirónsalud health network have partnered with schools to launch the Sense project. Quirónsalud is Spain's largest private healthcare operator, managing dozens of hospital facilities across the country.
The Sense program focuses specifically on child and youth populations, aiming to embed preventive mental healthcare into everyday educational environments. The project uses specialized digital screening tools to systematically evaluate various aspects of adolescent psychological health.
By identifying potential risk factors early, the system allows medical teams and educators to deliver tailored responses based on specific individual needs. Rather than waiting for emotional distress to reach a critical emergency, the project aims to equip young people with self-care tools and provide direct access to medical professionals.
Hospital Universitario Rey Juan Carlos, a public-private university hospital located in Móstoles within the Community of Madrid, is among the clinical centers implementing the screening framework. Ruiz Hernández serves as a specialist mental health nurse at the facility, which published her analysis in the Spanish national newspaper La Razón on September 20, 2026.
Distinguishing ordinary distress from clinical conditions
While advocating for expanded screening in schools, Ruiz Hernández cautioned against converting everyday emotional struggles into medical diagnoses. She stressed that normalizing mental health awareness must not lead to pathologizing normal human experiences such as sadness, fear, frustration, romantic breakups, or situational anxiety.
According to Ruiz Hernández, societal efforts should not aim to eliminate every unpleasant emotion or turn every life difficulty into a clinical diagnosis. Instead, healthcare providers and educators must learn to differentiate between normal life distress and situations where the intensity, duration, or operational impact of symptoms signals a need for professional evaluation.
She explained that growing up presents complex identity challenges, further compounded by constant digital connectivity compared to two decades ago. Young people today live in a permanently connected world with immediate access to vast information, facing social media pressures, academic stress, future uncertainty, and continuous exposure to peer comparison.
Technology itself is not solely responsible for mental health struggles among youth. Digital platforms also provide opportunities to build supportive communities, access educational information, maintain social bonds, and find help when needed.
Transforming public awareness into preventive care
Ruiz Hernández asserted that as the modern environment changes, methods for protecting youth mental health must adapt accordingly. Breaking societal stigma requires creating environments where seeking help is not viewed as a weakness, listening without judgment, improving access to resources, and ensuring early educational training on recognizing warning signs.
She emphasized that the ultimate challenge facing healthcare systems and schools is converting public discussion into concrete prevention, education, early detection, accessible resources, and timely medical attention.
The ultimate indicator of progress against mental health stigma is not the frequency with which the topic is discussed publicly. Ruiz Hernández stated that victory over stigma depends on what occurs when a person explicitly asks for help, ensuring they receive non-judgmental listening, guidance, and timely intervention before suffering turns into a crisis.
