Since its inception, EFPA has actively engaged in mental health advocacy throughout Europe and alongside our international collaborators. EFPA welcomes the 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.
EFPA's seven priorities
The seven priorities, elaborated upon below, are presented as tangible measures to guarantee continuous and significant EU-level action. Ideally, these priorities would evolve into workstreams forming part of a cohesive strategy, ready for launch and effectively bound together through the implementation of an EU Year for Mental Health.
01
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.
02
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.
03
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.
04
Mental wellbeing in the
workplace
Mental health in the workplace should be a priority, as demonstrated by recent EU funded research.
05
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.
06
Mental health training
standards and regulation
Mental health practitioners´ training should be based on a recognised standard, properly funded, and regulated in the EU.
07
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.
Meeting the mental health needs of children with special educational needs following COVID-19: Advocating for the critical role of psychologists in education
EFPA welcomes the UN General Assembly’s political declaration on the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases and the promotion of mental health