Linguistic Discrimination Alleged at Mental Health Center in Reus, Spain

In a disturbing incident that has sparked outrage among linguistic rights advocates, a psychologist at a mental health center in Reus, Spain, has refused to provide services in Catalan, the official language of the autonomous community of Catalonia.

The Incident

On October 24, 2024, the Plataforma per la Llengua (Platform for the Language), an organization dedicated to promoting and protecting the Catalan language, reported a case of linguistic discrimination at a mental health center in Reus. A patient seeking psychological services was told by the psychologist that she would not be attended to in Catalan.

Reaction and Justification

The health authority, Salut, has justified the psychologist's refusal by citing a lack of available staff who can provide services in Catalan. However, this explanation has been met with skepticism and criticism from linguistic rights groups and the public.

Public Outcry

The Plataforma per la Llengua has condemned the incident, emphasizing that it is a clear case of linguistic discrimination. The organization argues that the right to receive public services in Catalan is enshrined in Catalan law and that such refusals undermine the linguistic rights of citizens.

Context and Implications

Catalan is one of the official languages of Catalonia, along with Spanish, and is widely spoken in the region. The language has a rich cultural and historical significance, and efforts to promote and protect it are ongoing. Incidents like this highlight the challenges faced by linguistic minorities and the importance of ensuring that public services are accessible in all official languages.

Call for Action

The Plataforma per la Llengua is calling for immediate action to address this issue, including the provision of training for healthcare professionals to ensure they can communicate effectively in Catalan. The organization also demands stricter enforcement of linguistic rights laws to prevent similar incidents in the future.

This incident serves as a reminder of the ongoing struggle to maintain and promote linguistic diversity in Spain and the need for continued vigilance in protecting the rights of linguistic minorities.