EU parliament approves its first report on mental health

Members of the European Parliament on Tuesday (12 December) voted in favour of an own-initiative report calling for more direct funding to tackle the rising mental health issues in Europe and identification of high-risk populations.

The report, led by rapporteur Sara Cerdas (S&D), was backed by a vast majority of 482 in favour, 94 against, and 32 abstentions.

“Anyone, at any time of their life, can find themselves in a situation of vulnerability. Therefore, this report helps to identify social determinants of health and the groups and situations where people can be vulnerable as well as proposing specific actions to mitigate them,” said Sara Cerdas in her presentation of the report on Monday (11 December).

The European Parliament’s first report on mental health was finalised almost two weeks after EU ministers approved a series of recommendations to improve citizens’ mental health following the European Commission’s presentation of their “comprehensive approach to mental health” in June.

Mental health problems have been growing for a long time, but numbers have increased significantly during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the Commission, one in six EU citizens reported having mental health problems before the pandemic, whereas last year, one in two people reported having an emotional or psychosocial problem.

The Commission also estimated that the cost of “non-action” in mental health amounts to €600 billion every year.

In response to these numbers, the Parliament report focuses on identifying vulnerable groups and urges for mental health to be considered in all policies.

Cerdas also argued that it was necessary to create a European strategy on mental health and have a European Year of Mental Health to raise further awareness.

The report goes further than the Commission and EU ministers by calling for more direct funding. While welcoming the €765 million available to support research and innovation through the Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe programmes, they call for “sufficient funding” to “match the scale of the challenge” and a direct fund for mental health research and innovation.

“It’s time to smash the stigma. It’s time to prioritise. It’s time to invest in mental health,” Cerdas concluded.

In response to the vote, Matt Bolz-Johnson, mental health and wellbeing lead and healthcare advisor at patient organisation Rare Diseases Europe (EURORDIS), praised the report for reinforcing “its dedication to a truly comprehensive, integrated, and enduring mental health strategy.”

He was particularly pleased with the report’s recognition that “a person’s mental health is shaped by a multifaceted mix of socioeconomic, environmental, biological, and genetic elements” and that it included “the unique mental health challenges faced by individuals living with rare diseases and other chronic conditions.”

In a statement, Mental Health Europe said that they hoped for stronger calls for investments aimed at implementing structural and systemic changes as well as increased efforts to create guidelines on mental health language and terminology.

Nevertheless, they are generally pleased with the increased calls for commitment in the report and its focus on vulnerable groups. They hope that “the next EU legislature will build on this momentum, understand the crucial role of the psychosocial approach for cohesive societies, avoid undue influence of industrial and commercial interests in mental health related decisions, and ensure no one is left behind.”

Action already in the pipeline

On 30 November, EU ministers approved recommendations to handle rising mental health issues and emphasised that actions needed to take a multidisciplinary approach.

“The COVID-19 pandemic, the consequences of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine or the climate crisis itself are just some of the shocks which have exacerbated already poor levels of mental health. Improving mental health is a social and economic imperative,” said Mónica García Gómez, Spanish minister for health, during the employment, social policy, health and consumer affairs Council (EPSCO).

The Council conclusions followed the Commission’s “comprehensive approach to mental health” from June, also emphasising a cross-sectoral approach through 20 flagship initiatives and €1.23 billion in funding.

It focuses on issues such as mental health promotion, prevention and early intervention, the mental health of young people and vulnerable groups, well-being at work, mental health systems, and stigma.

Following the presentation in the European Parliament on Tuesday, EU Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson, representing the EU executive, welcomed Cerdas’ report.

Simson reiterated the goals included in the “comprehensive approach” and added that they are already taking action, such as starting a multidisciplinary cross-border training programme on mental health for professionals in January.

[Edited by Alice Taylor]

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