Proposal for an EU mental health strategy in view of the COVID‑19 pandemic

Subject: Proposal for an EU mental health strategy in view of the COVID‑19 pandemic

Prior to the pandemic, 84 million people in the EU (one in six) had a mental health issue, while the overall annual cost of mental health amounted to EUR 600 billion, or 4 % of the EU’s total GDP. The COVID‑19 pandemic has been associated with mental health challenges related to mortality from the disease and to mitigation activities, including physical distancing and stay‑at‑home orders. However, despite the many targeted resolutions covering urgent aspects of mental health, the debate on this aspect of health has never resulted in a comprehensive EU framework.

Studies and surveys conducted so far during the pandemic have consistently shown that young people are most vulnerable to increased psychological distress and have also suggested that young women are more vulnerable than young men, and that people with young children or a previously diagnosed psychiatric disorder are at particularly high risk of developing mental health problems.

1. Is the Commission considering an urgent call for a comprehensive and well‑resourced EU mental health strategy as part of the long‑term recovery plan to mitigate the consequences of the ongoing crisis and any future crises?

2. Are there any mechanisms to monitor whether sufficient funding from the EU4Health 2021‑2027 strategy is directed to mental health support and care across the Member States?

Answer given by Ms Kyriakides on behalf of the European Commission

(15 April 2021)

The Commission is aware that mental health issues are an important problem that needs to be addressed, holistically, at national and European level. The COVID-19 pandemic has only exacerbated this need.

In spring 2020, the Commission deployed an operational approach to respond to this challenge. This includes a dedicated space within the EU Health Policy Platform (1) to support stakeholders, which meanwhile gathers over seventy participants. First outcomes and practice examples have been showcased at a webinar in October 2020.

To further support Member States and to make the best use of available resources, the Commission will continue to encourage the exchange of knowledge and practices, also between Member States, and is exploring options to support the implementation of promising practices.

Through the third Health Programme, the Commission will co-fund a Joint Action on Mental Health with up to EUR 5 million. It will implement two best practices: a mental health system reform that strengthens patient-centred community-based services, and a multi-level suicide prevention programme. The specific needs of children and adolescents will be taken into account in this endeavour. Work is expected to start mid-2021.

The EU4Health programme will complement the policies of Member States to improve the health of citizens by supporting health promotion actions, including on mental health.

In May 2020, a special call under Horizon Europe 2020 was launched to address the most pressing needs as regards COVID-19. It aims to help understand the behavioural and socioeconomic impact of the pandemic.

The Commission considers the approach described above important in achieving operational results and will explore further actions accordingly.

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