Ministers of Health agreed to continue their engagement in the treatment and prevention in the area of mental health and wellbeing, during the EPSCO meeting on 6 June 2011. They specifically agreed to set up a Joint Action on mental health and well-being as a follow up to the European Pact on Mental Health.
At its meeting on 6 June 2011 in Luxembourg, the Council of Ministers adopted conclusions entitled “The European Pact for Mental Health and Well-being: results and future action“, acknowledging the work that has been done under the EU Pact for Mental Health and Well-being since June 2008 and inviting Member States and the European Commission to continue working on treatment and prevention.
More specifically, Member States agreed to set up a Joint Action on mental health and well-being under the EU public health programme 2008-2013 providing a platform for exchange of views, cooperation and coordination between member states.
Mental Health Europe – an EPHA member – welcomed the announcement of the Joint Action.
The Commission is called upon to submit a report on the outcomes of the joint action and consider which future policy actions could be taken as a follow-up to the European pact for mental health and well-being.
Other conclusions and future actions
The member states are urged to make mental health and well-being a priority of their health policies and to develop strategies and/or action plans on mental health including depression and suicide prevention.
Importantly, the conclusions urge MS and the Commission to:
– improve social determinants and infrastructure which support mental well-being and improve access to this infrastructure for people suffering from mental disorders;
– promote, where possible and relevant, community-based, socially inclusive treatment and care models;
– make best use of the possibilities offered by the Structural Funds in the field of mental health in particular for the reform and further improvement of their mental health systems;
– take steps towards greater involvement of the health and social sectors along with social partners in the field of mental health and well-being at the workplace;
– strenghten mental health promotion of children and young people by supporting positive parenting skills, holistic school approaches to reduce bullying and to increase social and emotional competences as well as supporting families where a parent has a mental disorder;
– build up an innovative partnerships between the health and other relevant sectors (eg. social, education, employment) to analyse policy impact on mental health, to address mental health problems, to address suicide prevention, to promote mental health and well-being and to prevent mental health disorders in different settings;
– continue addressing mental health in EU health policy, further develop the European Compass for Action on Mental Health, support MS by providing data, carrying out research in the field of mental health and its determinants, including the health, social and economic costs, taking into account the work done by the WHO and OECD.
The conclusions summarize the outcome of five thematic conferences on different aspects of mental health organised under the European Pact for ental Health and Well-being in different European capitals from 2009 to 2011.
Facts and Figures
– According to estimations of the World Health Organisation EURO (WHO) mental disorders affect every fourth citizen at least once during their life and can be found in more than 10% of the EU population during any given year.
– A Eurobarometer survey of October 2010 revealed that 15% of Europeans (i.e. one in seven) had sought professional help the year before because of psychological problems.
– According to Eurostat, suicide remains a significant cause of premature death in Europe, with over 50000 deaths a year in the EU.
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EPHA related articles
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