On 6 November 2008, EPHA participated in a Round Table discussion on ‘Mental Health in Europe: Fighting Stigma and Social Exclusion’ organised by Evangelia Tzampazi MEP, Rapporteur for the Report on ¨Mental Health¨ on behalf of the Committee for the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety.
The Round table aimed to address many of the fundamental issues that continue to drive stigma and the effect stigma has on the recovery of people living with mental health conditions.
It was moderated by Professor Jan Scott, Professor of Psychological Treatments Research, Institute of Psychiatry, UK.
Background
Mental health problems contribute heavily to the burden of ill health in Europe. One in four families have at least one member with a mental disorder. Projections from 1990 to 2020 suggest that the portion of the global burden of disease attributable to mental and brain disorders will rise to 15%. It is therefore essential to address the issues surrounding mental health, how it affects patients, healthcare professionals and carers, as well as its impact on society.
On 13 June 2008, an EU High-Level Conference “Together for Mental Health and Well-being” took place in Brussels, leading to
an adoption of a “European Pact for Mental Health and Well-being“. The Conference was part of the Commission follow-up to the Green Paper on Mental Health, on which the European Parliament adopted an own-initiative report in 2006.
The Coordinators of the ENVI Committee decided to seek authorisation to draw up an own-initiative report on mental health in order to be able to contribute to and support the implementation of the Pact, and to maintain mental health high on the EU Health Policy agenda.
Evangelia Tzampazi MEP is the Rapporteur of that Report.
Discussion report
Many studies were quoted, all emphasising that mental health is an essential component of communities and that factors adversely affecting mental health represent a major and growing threat to economic, social and public health in the world.
Evangelia Tzampazi MEP pointed out that mental illness is accompanied by a social stigmatisation which is even harder to address than the illness itself.
Jürgen Scheftlein from DG SANCO acknowledged the various factors and implications for mental illness and listed the various Commission’s activities – Commission-supported project activities and policy activities.
Kahlil Thompson Coyle then talked about a recent collective initiative by mental health advocacy groups to provide a tool for journalists – a Lexicon – to influence misreporting and sensationalism in media reporting, which contributes to discrimination and stigmatisation in the general population.
Guadelupe Morales shared her personal experience about the burden of stigma and made a passionate plea for patients with mental illness to be treated just like all the other patients and was indignant that it still need to be claimed.
Comments
EPHA considers that, following the adoption of the European Pact for Mental Health and Well-being on 13 June 2008, it is vital that European policymakers continue to treat mental health as a priority.
EPHA particularly supports initiatives such as the Lexicon. Indeed, these guidelines could help in changing the readership’s perception of mental illness.
Mental Health Europe ‘welcomes this Round Table as a positive initiative taken towards the implementation of the Mental Health Pact. As stated by Josée Van Remoortel, MHE Senior Policy Adviser, MHE would like to point out the need to bring the protection of human rights for people living with mental illness to the political agenda. It is unacceptable that EU disability policies don’t correspond to the new UN Convention on the rights of people with disabilities. Furthermore, there are still many gaps to be filled for combating stigma and social exclusion of people with mental health problems and a holistic approach is needed. MHE is therefore calling for more community-based initiatives and deinstitutionalization of care systems.’
Next steps
– 10 November 2008: Deadline for tabling amendments
– 1-2 December 2008: Adoption in ENVI
– February 2009: Adoption in Plenary
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For further information
– DRAFT REPORT on Mental Health (2008/2209(INI))
– WHO Report on Promoting Mental Health
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