Conference on mental health and work

Recent crises have had an impact on the moral of European citizens. So much so, that the recent COVID crisis has resulted in another one: a crisis in mental health.

The European Commission published a statement in 2023 on their comprehensive approach to mental health, which should support Member States and stakeholders in their actions to address challenges in this area. The Commission also stressed that mental health should be taken as seriously as physical health, and that psychosocial risks at work need to be combatted.

The working world has not been left unaffected by the health crisis. A 2022 survey conducted by the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work has revealed that more than 4 out of 10 workers (44%) active in the European Union have noted that they experience more stress at work as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Exposure to psychosocial risks at work has a severe impact on workers’ mental and physical health, causing issues ranging from depression to cardiovascular diseases. The mental health problems resulting from these psychosocial risks can be seen as a preventable burden, not only on workers and their families, but also on businesses and society as a whole.

It is in this context that the Belgian Presidency organises its high-level conference on mental health and work. The two-day event will bring together experts and decision-makers to address all challenges that are related to the deterioration of mental health in European workplaces. To this end, the conference will follow the continuum of prevention, addressing successively the three types of prevention (primary, secondary and tertiary). The need for an integrated approach, a strong legislative framework at European level, better anticipation of future crises and the importance of social dialogue will be highlighted.