Javier Urra: “It is important to teach children to know how to be alone with their thoughts”

The mental health of young people is one of the biggest concerns of our society and nobody better than Javier Urra to talk about this topic. This prestigious psychologist, the first Ombudsman for Children of the Community of Madrid, has represented Spain in international forums such as the UN or the European Parliament, In addition to being the author of numerous books, the last one on ‘The human being, a spiritual being’, in which he differentiates spirituality from religion. About his books and psychology we chat with Javier Urra who reveals to us why he believes that mental illnesses have increased. “Because we are in a society that has lost the reason for existence. Nietzsche already explained it in his book ‘The Death of God’. Without a reason to live, alternatives are sought so as not to fall into the abyss of despair, a of suicide” and reveals what those alternatives are. “Consumption of drugs, alcohol, in addition to a great disorganization of the world of work, family, couple, and little education and information to deal with frustration, and not setting limits on desires and desires,” he says.

“Mental disorders affect young people, mature people and those who have already entered the third age” says and gives the keys to detect that a person suffers from this type of disorder. “They are detected by changes in their behavior, by problems in attention or concentration. Also by maintaining unhealthy habits, towards oneself or towards others. Even due to a withdrawal of shyness, nostalgia, for closing in on themselves, and other times for being very expansive”, says Javier Urra in this interview.

Albert Bernardez. HEARST

Javier Urra recognizes that loneliness can be one of the serious problems of today’s society. “Loneliness affects some older people, but also many young people who know that the rest of their acquaintances, their friends, are going to stay to have fun, to interact, while they stay apart. That is a very overwhelming loneliness that produces a great suffering, which leads many of them to take refuge in the screens to find another type of relationship, different from skin to skin” and believes that children should study a subject that teaches them to be alone. “It is very important to teach children to know how to be bored, to use their imagination, creativity, to know how to be alone with their own thoughts and feelings. It is important that children go to a hospital to visit the sick, to kiss the grandmother who has Alzheimer’s, although it seems that he does not understand them. That is, we have to train not only in information and knowledge, but also in the character that allows us to face the demands of life, such as suffering, “he says.

Albert Bernardez. HEARST

Javier Urra reveals if he believes that the wounds of the soul are the most difficult to heal. “I try to explain it in my book ‘The human being, a spiritual being’, which I just edited, and which deals with the suffering of the soul, which goes far beyond the mind and, of course, far beyond what the brain can go. We have some vaccines so that suffering does not become chronic, we speak not of forgetting, but of forgiveness” and adds what we can do so that the pain does not become chronic. “Spirituality has always helped us to live. Men, in addition to being physical, biological, social and cultural beings, are spiritual. And for this reason we have less risk of falling into depression” and reveals if, on occasion, he has needed to go to a psychologist. “Personally I have been able to face life without having to go to a professional, to a colleague. During Covid my mother died, and it was very hard because she had Alzheimer’s and lived in a residence. It was very complex, first because her body had to be carried to a cold room, then to the crematorium and when they gave us the ashes, months passed before we were able to give it land in the vault that the family has in Estella, Navarra… Fortunately, I am a strong person, optimistic, grateful to life and I knew face it. And today I haven’t needed help,” he says.

Albert Bernardez. HEARST

Javier Urra also talks about religion and music and tells what the soundtrack of his life is. “It would be ‘En forma’ (‘In the Mood’), by Glen Miller (the American big band musician who swept the 40s and is already a legend); it gets me in shape and I like to share it with others” and reveals to us if he is a good husband. “Yes, but I realize that I have shared psychology with the family too many times,” he says.

Interview conducted in the terrace of Florida Park, in El Retiro Park, Madrid

My favorite photo

Loan Javier Urra

“I like this photo because I am at the Spanish Academy of Psychology, of which I am a Full Member, responding to the entry of the new academic Enrique Echeburua.”