October 2026, Cork — The European Federation of Psychologists’ Associations (EFPA) was pleased to participate in the Irish EU Presidency conference, “Resilient Europe: Mental Health as a Strategic Asset for Europe’s Strength and Competitiveness”, hosted by Ireland’s Department of Health at University College Cork.
The conference brought together European policymakers, professionals and stakeholders to highlight mental health as a priority not only for individual and societal wellbeing, but also for Europe’s resilience, crisis preparedness and long-term competitiveness.
The participation of Ireland’s Minister for Mental Health, Mary Butler, and EU Commissioner Michael McGrath, whose portfolio includes Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection, underscored the importance of integrating mental health across diverse policy areas, including digital technologies.
This reflects the “mental health in all policies” approach advanced through sustained collaboration among policymakers, professionals, civil society and people with lived experience, and reinforced by the European Commission’s 2023 Comprehensive Approach to Mental Health.
EFPA’s participation reaffirmed the vital contribution of psychological science and professional expertise to developing effective, inclusive and evidence-based European policies, recognising mental health as a strategic investment in Europe’s collective wellbeing and future.
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