MENTAL HEALTH
Mental health affects us all, in every aspect of our lives: our relationships with the people around us, how we work, where we live, and even our basic human rights. Mental health-friendly policies across all sectors, therefore, have a key role in the well-being of millions of Europeans. That is why Mental Health Europe calls on all policy makers in Europe to recognise that mental health matters and bring it at the heart of European policies.
Achieving better mental health for all in Europe
What we need is a long-term commitment from European leaders to build a society which does not stigmatise people living with mental ill health, supports the promotion of good mental health, and provides services for people of all ages.
Although health is not an EU competence, there are many existing European and international initiatives that represent invaluable opportunities to improve mental health policy in Europe. These include; the European Pillar of Social Rights, the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and the European Disability Strategy.
Therefore, the upcoming European Parliament should:
1. Bring mental health at the heart of EU policy making
- Include mental health in all relevant policies, such as employment, migration, social affairs.
- Address inequalities, education, early childhood development, housing, violence and poverty as determinants of mental health.
- Set up a European wellbeing indicator in European budgeting.
2. Support human rights compliant EU policies
- Ensure the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities by the EU.
- Encourage the autonomy of persons with psychosocial disabilities and mental health problems through EU policies.
3. Raise awareness on mental health and tackling stigma
- Launch an EU wide campaign to raise awareness on mental health stigma and the rights of persons with psychosocial disabilities as suggested by the CRPD Committee in collaboration with civil society organisations.
- Foster dialogue and encourage the sharing of good practices on effective intervention strategies for the promotion of mental health and prevention of mental health problems, treatment, care and recovery.
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Action on mental health requires an integrated approach, across sectors and countries. Please download MHE’s manifesto which lays out recommendations for a wide range of stakeholders including MEPs and MEP candidates; policy-makers in the European Commission, European Council and Member States; and civil society actors like mental health services, users organisations, medical associations, research institutions, employers and the general public.
Please also watch our short video on the issue.
Political Parties On Issues
ISSUES
The On Our Watch project brings together Civil Society Organisations working on all kind of topics. As representatives of and in direct contact with citizens, organisations have a strong role to play in holding the European Parliament accountable to the public. By joining forces in the context of the #EUelections2019 (23-26 May), On Our Watch offers a comprehensive overview of the key issues that European citizens care about.
Want to join? Get in touch! Contact: christian.skriverik[@]europeanmovemnt.eu | Address: Place du Luxembourg 2, B-1050, Brussels | Phone: +32 2 508 30 83