Health-EU newsletter 258 - Focus

A healthy frame of mind: European Commission action on mental health

John F. Ryan, Director of the European Commission Directorate for Public Health, talks about the Commission’s work in the field of mental health, including a new Joint Action in Mental Health and a new stakeholders’ group on the EU Health Policy Platform that specifically addresses mental health issues in light of COVID-19.

What is the cost of poor mental health on society?

Two years ago, we dedicated a chapter on mental health in our Report on the State of Health in the EU. It included sobering data on the cost of mental ill-health to our citizens and society. Mental health problems affect some 84 million people across the EU: more than one in six citizens! In total, we spend over EUR 600 billion, more than 4% of our GDP, on the consequences of mental ill-health, but only a third of this reflects direct spending on health care. We pay a much bigger price indirectly, through lost employment and productivity, and in additional social security spending. On a brighter note, investing in people’s well-being builds a strong foundation for more sustainable long-term economic growth, as well as for the overall health of our citizens!

How long has the Commission been active in mental health?

Our involvement goes back nearly two decades. Our first ‘Green Paper’ stressed the importance of promoting mental health for all, addressing mental ill health, and improving the quality of life of people with mental ill health or disability. It also proposed developing a mental health information, research and knowledge system for the EU. Since then, we have supported many initiatives, collaborating with experts, civil society and policy makers across our Member States. We have been able to gather knowledge and good practices, especially in key areas like the prevention of depression and suicide, mental health in all policies, workplace and school setting initiatives, the role of e-health, and community based services.

How is the Commission helping now?

We support Member States in their efforts to promote mental health and well-being, prevent mental ill health, and provide timely access to good quality services. This really is at the core of what we do. We want to make a real difference, based on what we know works best, saving Member States having to reinvent the wheel and allowing them to focus on getting things done. We identify good practices with the help of the Commission’s Joint Research Centre, ask health ministries which are most relevant and support the implementation of those practices in areas that Member States have identified as a priority.

In the field of mental health, we selected four specific practices from the initiatives we supported in previous years. We can now co-fund their wider implementation through the Health Programme, contributing up to 8.4 million Euros. As we speak, a Joint Action on Mental Health is taking shape and applications for two projects are being evaluated.

We also work hard to support stakeholders in their effort to tackle the impact of COVID19 on mental health. This is a major challenge, and one that will remain with us for quite some time. The pandemic affects us all in different ways, but we all need to come to terms with the pressures of lockdown, social isolation, and worries about our health and that of our loved ones.

That’s why we created a space within our Health Policy Platform for stakeholder organisations to come together and share their concerns about the burden of the pandemic on mental health, and to exchange mental health practice and knowledge. The results of the work of over 60 participants will be shared via webinars hosted by the Health Policy Platform, with the first one planned for later this month.

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