Ibero-American collaboration takes center stage at Mental Health Physiotherapy Conference

San Sebastián hosted a landmark event in the field of physiotherapy in mental health: the 4th National and 2nd Ibero-American Conference on Physiotherapy in Mental Health, organized by the Spanish Association of Physiotherapists in Mental Health (AEF-SM) and the Official College of Physiotherapists of the Basque Country.

The conference opened with a panel on the evolution of mental health physiotherapy in Spain. It continued with sessions on the link between pain and mental health, including talks by Óscar Rodríguez and María Candelas Madariaga (Spain). Workshops covered BBAT and therapeutic exercise. Notably, international speakers Norma Gálvez (Mexico), Luisa dos Reis Pedro (Portugal), and Janette Canales (Brazil) addressed chronic pain, well-being, and interoception in mental health.

One of the key highlights of the conference was undoubtedly Panel 4: "Ibero-America: Looking Toward the Future of Mental Health Physiotherapy," held on the end of the Conference. This session brought together experts from ten countries across the Americas and the Iberian Peninsula, in a dynamic exchange of knowledge, innovation, and shared challenges.

Chaired by Professor Daniel Catalán Matamoros (Spain), the panel featured:

• Mónica Janneth Herrera (Ecuador)

• Denis Montoya Valverde (Costa Rica)

• Paulina Cedas Ravena (Chile)

• Virginia Soledad Anghilante (Argentina)

• Jéssica Oliveira Béda (Brazil)

• Lizbeth Rodríguez Márquez (Mexico)

• Geovana Landeo Acosta (Peru)

• Ellen Zambo Anderson (United States)

• Jennifer Vanessa López Arévalo (Guatemala)

Each representative presented a unique perspective on how mental health physiotherapy is being integrated —or striving to be integrated— into national healthcare frameworks. Topics included the need for specialized training, interdisciplinary collaboration, public health recognition, and the development of culturally tailored approaches.

This session marked a significant step forward for the global mental health physiotherapy movement. It fostered a spirit of unity and collaboration among Ibero-American countries and laid the foundation for future joint initiatives and research.

The IOPTMH celebrates this historic gathering as a reflection of the growing international recognition of physiotherapy’s essential role in mental health care.

For more information about the conference and ongoing developments, visit: https://jornadafisioterapiasaludmental.com