Communication on a comprehensive approach to mental health

Summary:

Communication adopted by the European Commission on 7 June 2023, setting out a comprehensive approach to mental health.

Further information:

Mental health is an integral part of health. It is a state of well-being in which individuals realise their own abilities and can cope with the stresses of life and contribute to community life. Mental health is a precondition for a productive economy and inclusive society and goes beyond individual or family matters. It does not happen in vacuum, it is conditioned by personal and external factors.

According to the European Union's (EU) Charter of Fundamental Rights, everyone has the right of access to preventive health care and the right to benefit from medical treatment under the conditions established by national laws and practices. According to the European Pillar of Social Rights (EPSR), everyone has the right to timely access to affordable, preventive and curative health care of good quality. Responding to this reality and to the citizens’ call for action on mental health in the context of the Conference on the Future of Europe (CoFoE), the President of the European Commission announced a new initiative on mental health in the EU. It was also a response to a Resolution adopted by the European Parliament in 2022 on mental health in the digital world of work.

This Communication seeks to launch a new strategic approach to mental health, cross-sectoral in nature, going beyond health policy. It focuses on how to bring relief to people suffering from mental health and on prevention policies. It draws on three guiding principles that should apply to every EU citizen: (i) to have access to adequate and effective prevention, (ii) to have access to high quality and affordable mental healthcare and treatment, and (iii) to be able to reintegrate society after recovery.

Official

European Commission: Priorities 2019-2024: European Health Union: A comprehensive approach to mental health https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/priorities-2019-2024/promoting-our-european-way-life/european-health-union/comprehensive-approach-mental-health_en

European Commission: Press Release, 07/06/2023: European Health Union: a new comprehensive approach to mental health https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_23_3050

European Commission: Opening remarks by Vice-President Schinas and Commissioner Kyriakides on a comprehensive approach to mental health (7 June 2023) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/speech_23_3121

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News

EUObserver, 07/06/2023: EU Commission wants better focus on mental health care https://euobserver.com/health-and-society/157121

Reuters, 07/06/2023: EU Commission allocates $1.3 billion to tackle mental health 'silent epidemic' https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/eu-commission-allocates-13-bln-tackle-mental-health-silent-epidemic-2023-06-07/

EurActiv, 08/06/2023: Beyond health policy: EU Commission lays out mental health strategy https://www.euractiv.com/section/health-consumers/news/beyond-health-policy-eu-commission-lays-out-mental-health-strategy/

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Commentary and Analysis

Rare Diseases Europe (EURORDIS): Press Release, 07/06/2023: EURORDIS responds to European Commission’s mental health strategy https://www.eurordis.org/response-to-mental-health-strategy/

European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU): Press Release, 07/06/2023: More support needed for health, care, and public service workers in new Mental Health Strategy https://www.epsu.org/article/more-support-needed-health-care-and-public-service-workers-new-mental-health-strategy

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