European Health Futures Forum
EHFF
The European Health Futures Forum (EHFF) is a non-profit organisation dedicated to improving the health of European citizens through an open, interactive, and inclusive forum.
ID: 216585211114-86
Lobbying Activity
Response to A comprehensive approach to mental health
7 Feb 2023
The European Health Futures Forum is an NGO dedicated to supporting the transformation of European health and healthcare to become more holistic as well as more financially sustainable in the long term. We applaud the ambition expressed in President von der Leyens State of the Union address, that we should take better care of each other. And for many who feel anxious and lost, appropriate, accessible and affordable support can make all the difference. What this statement underlines, in the context of a European, comprehensive approach to mental health is, firstly to remind us that taking better care of each other should be an intrinsic aspect of health and healthcare and secondly, that mental health is not just about clinically defined mental illness, but covers the whole spectrum from mental illness, emotional distress to mental wellbeing. As the Call for Evidence notes, the Commission has been working on mental health for over 25 years. Change during this time has been steady , but slow. We note for example the outcome of the Joint Action, on Mental Health and Well-being 2012-2016 (https://mentalhealthandwellbeing.eu/the-final-conference-of-the-ja-mh-wb-was-held-on-21-22-january-2016-in-brussels/ ) where the extent of the work still needed to be done was clearly identified, and in no way contradicts any of the points made in the Call for Evidence. Equally, the WHO European Framework for Action on Mental Health (EFAMH), covering the period 20212025, addresses essentially the same issues, commenting despite the renewed international attention to mental health and the development of evidence- based tools and innovations for better treatments and services, there remains a set of fundamental challenges that predates the COVID-19 pandemic and affects countries throughout the Region. Therefore, in our view renewed policy efforts in this area are both laudable and relevant. However, when one examines the detail of what is proposed in the section What does the initiative aim to achieve and how?, there are a number of observations we wish to make. Our organisation has extensive knowledge of mental health services, from both a user and a clinician perspective. We have also been previously involved in a number of Commission funded projects on promoting self-management, especially in chronic conditions. Given the first theme, promotion of good mental health and prevention of mental health problems, we very much support this, with the caveat, that previously it would appear that issues related to treating mental illness, rather than prevention were the prime focus of investment. Much needed, true, but if one takes a holistic view, not sufficient. If the focus is holistic, it is therefore somewhat surprising that the section on monitoring progress appears to concentrate almost entirely on issues related to mental illness, perhaps with the exception of suicide prevention, an initiative already well underway and occupational health, which is relatively generic (and there are a number of projects already current on promoting better mental health in the workplace). It is excellent that the one direction would be to look at policies, actions and funding for mental health literacy, awareness-raising, citizen empowerment and education across society, but with our experience in the health literacy and citizen empowerment fields, the concern would be that, to create an effective policy framework geared to supporting better mental health in society throughout the life-cycle definitely requires a multi-stakeholder approach, which means an agreed collaborative effort between different agencies, especially with those responsible for policies education, health and employment agreeing to work together. This comes back to the health in all policies approach which has been current for some time now, but does require some commitment for it be more than a virtuous slogan. If the initiative is seen as emanating only from DG SANTE it is unlike
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