Andorra Minister Hails Nearby Sant Lluís Centre as Mental Health Relief

Andorra's Health Minister Helena Mas has described the upcoming Sant Lluís Mental Health Centre in La Seu d'Urgell as a major relief for families, citing its close proximity and specialised care options.

The facility, promoted by the Bishopric of Urgell in the former seminary, will provide medium- and long-term admissions for mental health and addiction treatment. It targets patients who have passed the acute phase of hospital care but require ongoing support in a stable environment. Stays will last three to six months for subacute and convalescence phases, serving adults, children, and adolescents. The centre will have capacity for 97 people, many expected to come from Andorra.

Mas emphasised the site's location—just 10 minutes by car from the Principality—as a key advantage. This will ease patient monitoring, strengthen family ties, and reduce lengthy trips to cities like Barcelona, which have been common for such cases. She noted both logistical and emotional benefits, enabling greater family involvement in recovery processes that often span months.

The minister highlighted the project's innovative approach, with the entire space under renovation to incorporate modern features and infrastructure that best support patient therapy. "It will be an innovative mental health centre that can greatly benefit our patients," she said.

Positioned as a complementary resource within Andorra's care model—which blends local services with networks of external specialists—the centre will address broad rehabilitation needs.

Mas, leading a Ministry of Health team, will visit the construction site on Tuesday, May 5, joined by Bishopric technicians and Episcopal Co-Prince Josep-Lluís Serrano Pentinat, Bishop of Urgell. Operations are slated to begin late 2026 or early 2027.