The Minister of Health, Manuela García, emphasised the importance of raising awareness and destigmatising mental health disorders through initiatives like this one, which promote empathy, inclusion, and understanding.

Throughout this year, over 70 workshops have been held with the participation of more than 500 people, including patients, relatives, and healthcare professionals.

The Minister of Health, Manuela García, and the Director General of Mental Health, Carme Bosch, inaugurated today the “Beyond the Diagnosis” exhibition together with Vicente Galaso, the project’s promoter. This collective photographic initiative brings together people who have experienced mental distress to show reality and combat the stigma associated with mental health conditions.

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Health presents “Beyond the Diagnosis,” a photographic project to fight stigma in mental health

Through photographic portraits, the exhibition seeks to highlight personal stories that reflect the diversity of experiences among those living with mental health challenges and their surroundings. The project underscores that behind every diagnosis there are people with lives, emotions, and hopes, and it promotes empathy, human connection, and shared reflection.

García stated:

“Making mental health issues visible is a priority for this Government. Initiatives like this help us break barriers, humanize care, and build a more empathetic and inclusive society. Behind every diagnosis, there is a story that deserves to be told and heard.”

She also recalled that the Government has just launched the first call for grants for projects in the field of mental health and addictions, reaffirming its commitment to improving citizens’ emotional well-being.

The exhibition will be open to the public at the Passeig del Born in Palma from October 6 to 19, and will include participatory workshops aimed at breaking taboos and reducing stigma toward people with mental health conditions.

This project was created through a collaboration agreement between the Directorate-General for Mental Health of the Balearic Health Service and the Balearic Association of Mental Health Users and Families, La Nostra Veu, under the direction of Vicente Galaso. It is an inclusive and cross-institutional initiative designed to humanise the experience of mental health care, where people with mental suffering and healthcare staff photograph each other, learning from one another.

During 2025, more than 70 photography workshops have taken place in hospitals, community units, associations, and social services in Mallorca, Menorca, and Ibiza, with over 500 participants —patients, professionals, and relatives— to demonstrate that there is life beyond the diagnosis.

Project goals:

• Make personal stories visible: show the diversity of experiences of people living with mental health disorders.
• Promote empathy: encourage professionals to better understand their patients’ realities.
• Destigmatise mental health: challenge stereotypes and foster open dialogue.
• Build connections: create spaces for interaction and shared learning between patients and professionals.
• Inspire reflection: encourage everyone to look beyond the diagnosis.