The Association of Relatives and People with Mental Illness of the Costa del Sol (Afesol) is 25 years old, so the entity has not missed the opportunity to dedicate its 2025 calendar to this anniversary. In it, it shows some of the work it has been doing, always with the aim of improving the quality of life of people with mental health problems and their families. 

Afesol was founded in September 1999 in Mijas and, since then, has been growing and expanding its services. Today, it serves more than a thousand people throughout the Costa del Sol. "We have been working for 25 years in mental health with people who have a mental health problem and their families. The calendar is part of the programme by the Andalusian Health Service of the Junta de Andalucía to prevent and fight against mental health stigma. It is completely free of charge and serves to raise awareness about the work carried out by the association", explained the president of Afesol, Cristian González, at the presentation of the calendar on Friday 24th at the Mijas Town Hall. The councillor for Social Inclusion, Melisa Ceballos (PP), was also present at the event and stressed that "here in Mijas they are doing very important work with both the mentally ill and their families, who are the mainstay of these people. From the Town Hall we support Afesol through grants so that they can continue to carry out this work". 

The calendar includes photographs that raise awareness of the different actions, as well as services and collaborators that Afesol has. "It includes, for example, the suicide prevention programme, which is subsidised by the Mijas Town Hall, and which is developed in schools", said González. The president of the association also announced some of the projects that the association plans to develop this year. In collaboration with the Town Hall and the Local Police of Mijas we are working to provide training this year at the Andalusian School of Public Safety in mental health to all future police officers, on how they have to act in a crisis situation or suicide prevention". 

Institutional support 

The Mijas Town Hall reaffirms its commitment to continue collaborating with Afesol. Last year it allocated almost 98,000 euros in aid to the association. "Our department supports Afesol in the projects it is carrying out in the municipality, in collaboration with schools, as well as with the accompaniment programmes it has with the police. We are trying, between all of us, to look after the mental health of our children, the elderly and people suffering from mental pathologies", concluded Ceballos. 

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