Las migajas

In a recent piece, Saul Bellow advised his friend Bette Howland, who had contemplated suicide, to write in bed and make the most of her misfortune. Bellow believed that many writers, including himself, embraced this approach. However, the author points out that not all suffering can be monetized, even for talented individuals. The example of Sylvia Plath, who shifted from poetry to gas chamber, demonstrates that mental anguish is not a prerequisite for greatness.

In Spain, 29% of adults experience depressive symptoms, and 10% of the population takes antidepressants daily. Demand for these medications increased by 24% in the past year. The reporter recalls a conversation in Madrid, where someone asked for advice on addressing mental health issues. The journalist suggested two words: quick and easy.

The key is access to treatment, not the speed or simplicity of the process itself. The global expenditure on this field is only 2% of the healthcare budget, a meager amount that leaves most people to endure their suffering in solitude, with resistance as their only recourse. Capitalizing on pain is not an artistic virtue, but rather a miracle of talent.

For the rest, it is an everyday calamity. If the response is an endless waiting list or an automatic pill, the cycle of chaining pain to a dog will continue.