Since its inception EFPA has engaged as an active participant in mental health advocacy throughout Europe and alongside our collaborators internationally. EFPA welcomes a recognition of the importance of ensuring that EU and national policies proactively promote good mental health, as well as work to prevent, mitigate and respond to mental health challenges.
The seven priorities, expanded upon below, are offered as concrete ways to ensure sustained and meaningful EU-level action. Ideally these priorities would become workstreams of a coherent strategy, which could be launched and effectively bound together in the form of an EU Year for Mental Health.
1—Commitment to mental health in all policies |
A focus on mental health and its social determinants should feature in all EU policies. It should address the foundations of development in childhood and across the lifespan. It should be properly funded, resourced and measured. |
2—Mental health as a core part of societal crises responses |
Mental health should be a core part of any response to current and future societal crises. |
3—Community-oriented mental health services |
WHO’s call for more community-oriented mental health services should be supported. Services should focus on providing suitable support for those who need it, in particular to vulnerable groups. |
4—Mental wellbeing in the workplace |
Mental health in the workplace should be a priority, as demonstrated by recent research e.g. the H-WORK project. |
5—The impact of climate change on mental health especially for the young |
Support programmes —for children and young people especially— should be introduced in settings such as schools. |
6—Mental health training standards and regulation |
Mental health practitioner training should be based on a recognised standard, properly funded, and regulated in the EU. |
7—Equality of access to mental health including digitalisation |
Citizens should be engaged as partners and have equal access to appropriate and high-quality mental healthcare. Digital and physical contexts should receive equal consideration. |
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