[ABSTRACT] Since the seventies, the concept of Social Support (SS) has produced an impressive literature and nowadays is considered an important factor that affects health and well-being. Several index of SS were included in the setting of the Galicia Study of Mental Health of the Elderly. Galicia, in the northwestern Spanish corner, is a region with 2,7 million of inhabitants (18% older than 65 years) where Health and Social Services belong to the same Ministry. Aim: To analyze the magnitude and the kind of SS of the Galician elderly population in terms of: a) Network and b) Functionality (Emotional, Informative and Instrumental SS). Methods: In the framework of a cross-sectional, double-phase, community epidemiological study, SS was evaluated for each of the 3580 subjects that composed the sample, representative of the population older than 60 years. The items used to develop several index of SS were: marital status, number of people at home, number of friends and a short questionnaire specifically developed to assess network and functionality of perceived SS. Findings: 16% live alone, 9% have no friends and 5% feel that, in case of need, they could not get support from a helpful person. The 22,1%, 11,6% and 4,1% of the population feel they have an insufficient instrumental, informational and emotional SS, respectively. Most of the perceived SS comes from the family, some from friends, but nothing from professionals. Conclusions: These results have implications for the organization of Galician health and social services.Desde finales de los años 70 el concepto de Apoyo Social (AS) ha generado una abundantísima literatura científica. Numerosos estudios han detectado en muy distintas poblaciones, y especialmente en ancianos, que el AS constituye un factor protector de la salud física y mental. En Galicia, con un 18% de la población mayor de 65 años, la organización de los servicios sanitarios y sociales depende de la misma Consellería. El AS fue evaluado en el marco del Estudio Epidemiológico Comunitario de Salud Mental en la Población Gallega mayor de 60 años. Objetivo: Analizar la cantidad de AS (red social) y tipo (material, informativo y afectivo) de que disponen los viejos gallegos que viven en sus hogares. Métodos: Corresponden a un estudio epidemiológico comunitario de doble fase, transversal, sobre una muestra poblacional. La muestra, compuesta por 3580 sujetos mayores de 60 años, estratificada con arreglo al sexo, edad, hábitat y Area Sanitaria, es representativa de la población gallega mayor de 60 años (error muestral