EESC opinion: Strategy on mental health for the European Union

EESC opinion: Strategy on mental health for the European Union

Key points

The EESC supports the Commission initiative on developing an integrated European strategy on mental health. There can be no ambiguity about the importance of mental health in Europe or the need for a strategy in this area. The Committee highlights the need to:

 

Cover several different aspects, namely:

  • improving health education,
  • reacting more rapidly to health threats,
  • reducing health inequalities,
  • guaranteeing a high level of social protection and good health by means of an intersectoral strategy.

 

Define objectives:

  • promoting the mental health of all,
  • putting prevention to the fore,
  • improving the quality of life of people with a mental illness or psychiatric disability, and
  • developing a mental health information system and research programme for the EU.

 

Draw up recommendations, specifically:

  • a pilot project on the creation of regional information networks linking all the various players,
  • promoting the process of deinstitutionalisation, to make better use of available resources.

 

Determine best practice for promoting the social inclusion and protecting the rights of people with a mental illness or psychiatric disability, which should be one of the responsibilities of the European Union’s Fundamental Rights Agency.