Mental diseases

La Marató de TV3 in 2000 dealt with serious mental illness, with the aim of raising public awareness and using the money raised to fund scientific research in this field, to discover the causes of these diseases, early diagnosis, improving the treatment and preventing them as far as possible.

As well as raising a large sum of money, which went to fund 53 research projects, La Marató 2000 did essential work in raising public awareness and combating the marginalisation that many patients and their families suffer because of the lack of knowledge and the stigma that surrounds mental illness.

The origin of serious mental illness, such as schizophrenia, depression or bipolar disorders, is to be found in a combination of genetic, organic and environmental factors that are still not properly understood. Mental diseases can affect people of any age and, when the symptoms appear they have a huge effect on the daily life of the patient, but also on families and acquaintances.