During Mental Health Awareness Month, we embrace the theme “Hospitality: A Path of Hope in the Service of Mental Health,” reaffirming our commitment to those we accompany. Each story we share reflects how hospitality becomes a path of hope that transforms lives.
From the Province of Spain, Dr. Meritxell Centeno, Director of Strategic Care Development at Fundació Hospitalàries Sant Boi, offers her insights on mental health support and the impact of hospitality in people’s recovery.
“Hospitality is not just about opening doors; it is also about offering an inner space of welcome—listening, understanding, and accompanying without judgment. At Fundació Hospitalàries, we are committed to the recovery of the people we care for. The focus is on the person, not the diagnosis.”
La Fundació Hospitalàries Sant Boi, antes Benito Menni CASM, cuenta con más de 125 años de trayectoria velando por el bienestar de quienes atendemos. Formamos parte de la Fundación Hospitalarias, una fundación canónica que integra toda la actividad asistencial de las Hermanas Hospitalarias en España. Cada año, nuestros servicios de salud mental atienden a más de 20.000 personas en Sant Boi, Hospitalet de Llobregat y Granollers. Para la Dra. Centeno, la esperanza es un elemento central de la labor que realizan cada día:
“Hope is the driving force that guides us and the people we care for. It is not naïve optimism, but the certainty that there is always the possibility of recovery and a fulfilling life. In every small step forward, we discover that accompanying with respect and closeness transforms realities.”
“On days like today, we renew our commitment to serve through hospitality so that each person we care for feels seen, valued, and supported along their journey. Because it is there that hospitality truly becomes a path of hope.”
The foundation’s approach is holistic, addressing all dimensions of the person—biological, psychological, social, spiritual, and religious. Hospitality translates into service within a community, alongside professional teams, families, and society, advancing toward inclusion and overcoming stigma.
Dr. Meritxell Centeno’s testimony reminds us that mental health concerns us all, and that with hospitality, humanity, and hope, every person can find a safe space to rebuild their life and dignity.
