Subject: Mental health of European citizens
Europeans today are facing numerous different challenges, including a number of major issues in the field of mental health. It is therefore important to seek ways of addressing these challenges and promoting the mental health and well-being of Europeans.
It would be useful to know more about the Council’s approach1 to these issues. In particular, it would be worth examining in greater detail the policies adopted and initiatives taken to address mental health challenges, promote diversity and acceptance and address other issues relating to the mental health and well-being of Europeans.
In view of this, can the Council say:
1. What initiatives are being taken to promote the mental health and well-being of (a) workers, and (b) young people across the European Union?
2. How is it addressing the challenges arising from increased use of social media and technology, which are impacting on the mental health and well-being of people in Europe?
Submitted:22.3.2023
1 https://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/lsa/122389.pdf
Reply
(16 October 2023)
Mental health is an important element of overall public health and wellbeing and has as such been addressed in many policy discussions in the Council. In 2021, in its conclusions on strengthening the European Health Union (2), the Council recalled that health, economic and social insecurities due to the COVID-19 pandemic had negatively impacted mental health.
The 2021 Council conclusions on sustainable work over the life course (3) further called on the Member States and the Commission to strengthen the mainstreaming of occupational safety and health into relevant policies and measures, in particular in the area of mental health.
The Council also considered, in its 2019 conclusions on the Economy of Wellbeing (4), that greater efforts to promote good mental health and to advance the prevention, early diagnosis, treatment and destigmatisation of mental disorders would improve the lives of millions of Europeans throughout the course of their lives.
In addition, in its 2019 conclusions on the New EU Strategic Framework on Health and Safety at Work (5), the Council invited the Commission to propose a Mental Health Strategy for the Union, taking into account the cross-sectoral impacts of different policies, including Occupational Safety and Health (OSH), on mental health. To that end, earlier this year the Commission released a communication on a comprehensive approach to mental health.
In this context, the Council is currently discussing draft Council conclusions on mental health in different policy areas, which the Spanish Presidency aims to submit for approval to the Council before the end of 2023.
1 ∙ ⸱ https://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/lsa/122389.pdf
| | )In its Resolution on the European Union Youth Strategy 2019-2027 (6), the Council highlighted mental health and wellbeing as one of the main challenges for young people.
To address these issues, Member States are invited, among other measures, to focus on prevention measures that ensure that young people are equipped with the knowledge and the skills required for better mental wellbeing.
The Council conclusions on supporting well-being in digital education (7), invite Member States to, among other measures, promote the design of teaching and learning processes with a view to their impact on learners’ well-being and, where relevant, encourage strong cooperation between digital education ecosystems and mental health and psycho-social professionals and services.
6 ∙ ⸱ Resolution of the Council of the European Union and the Representatives of the Governments of the Member States meeting within the Council on a
framework for European cooperation in the youth field: The European Union Youth Strategy 2019-2027, (2018/C 456/01).
7 ∙ ⸱ Council conclusions on supporting well-being in digital education (2022/C 469/04).