A comprehensive approach to mental health

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, 1 in 6 people in the EU suffered from mental health issues. This situation has worsened with the unprecedented crises experienced over the past years. The pandemic has placed additional pressures on people’s mental health, especially among the young and those with pre-existing mental health conditions.

To tackle this crisis, the European Commission is putting mental health on par with physical health by introducing 20 flagship initiatives and €1.23 billion in funding from different financial instruments.

46%

of EU citizens had an emotional or psychosocial problem in the last 12 months

89%

of EU citizens agree that mental health promotion is as important as physical health promotion

25%

of EU citizens report that they or a family member encountered issues accessing mental health services

^{Source: Flash Eurobarometer on mental health, published on 9 October 2023}

Why should the EU act on mental health?

On the occasion of European Mental Health Week in May 2023 we have asked EU citizens why the EU should act on mental health. Here is what they told us.

“Mental health is public health. It is a right. We have to protect it for the well-being of all EU citizens and the Union itself.”
Georgia Michailidou Tazoglou, Greece
“Because we can only live and perform our best when we are both, physically and mentally well.”
Nicola Unterecker, Germany
“Because mentally healthy communities are vital for individual well-being and flourishing societies.”
Catalina Maria Popoviciu, Romania

The three guiding principles

Rapid technological, environmental, and societal changes have greatly affected some people’s ability to cope. As such, the EU will take a holistic approach to mental health, based on the guiding principles

adequate and effective prevention
access to high quality and affordable mental healthcare and treatment
reintegration into society after recovery

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What are we doing concretely?

The factors affecting people’s mental health are varied and need to be looked at from across all policy areas. Therefore, the EU’s approach will be wide in scope, and will include efforts to:

Integrating mental health across policies
- European Mental Health Capacity Building Initiative
Promoting good mental health, prevention and early intervention for mental health problems
- European Depression and Suicide Prevention Initiative
- Healthier Together initiative – strengthen the mental health strand
- Access gate for people experiencing mental health issues
- European Code for Mental Health
- Developing joint ecosystem for brain research
Boosting the mental health of children and young people
- Child and youth mental health network
- "Child Health 360: prevention toolkit"
- Youth First Flagship
- Healthy Screens, Healthy Youth
Helping those most in need
- Protecting victims of crime
- Cancer mission: platform for young cancer survivors
Tackling psychosocial risks at work
- EU-level initiative on the psychosocial risks
- EU workplace campaigns
Reinforcing mental health systems and improving access to treatment and care
- Initiative for more and better trained professionals in the EU
- Technical support for mental health reforms across several sectors
- Gathering data on mental health
Breaking through stigma
- Tackling stigma and discrimination
Fostering mental health globally
- Mental health support for Ukraine’s displaced and affected people
- Supporting the dissemination of the Inter Agency Standing Committee Minimum Service Package on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS)