Learn about our work and mental health initiatives that we have promoted from the European Parliament and our survey of young people in the European Union
For an european
MENTAL HEALTH STRATEGY
There is no real health without mental health
Mental health remains and it is a relatively low priority across the EU, despite its enormous impact on well-being, social cohesion and productivity.
Very little progress has been made in developing a comprehensive European mental health strategy since 2019 and the resolution on the European Union’s post-COVID-19 public health strategy..
Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health
COVID-19 accentuated a previous trend, at European level, of worsening health. Already in 2018, mental health disorders affected 84 million people in the EU (more than 11 % of the European population) and represented an economic cost of up to 4 % of national GDP.
The pandemic — and the subsequent economic crisis — has asymmetrically affected the mental well-being of the population, impacting more negatively on children and young people, women and health workers.
Our strategic priorities
We cannot look the other way at this reality. It is imperative that we work on mental health from the earliest ages and from those spaces where young people and adolescents are: schools. In addition, we need to fight the stigma that continues to exist in our societies around mental health.
We must work together to improve national mental health services, which should be considered essential services as a resilience mechanism.
From the Renew Europe political group, we call on the Commission to develop a European long-term mental health strategy that is comprehensive and respectful of human rights. It should ensure adequate investment in the treatment and prevention of mental health problems in Europe and provide for specific policies for young people, women and health workers. In addition, it must ensure that Member States implement the necessary mental health regulations, including to reduce inequalities between countries and set benchmarks for Europe.
Youth and Mental Health
Survey on the mental health of young Europeans
The number of young people who suffer from depression, anxiety and loneliness grows day by day. That is why, at Renew Europe, we call for the Commission to adopt a European mental health strategy. We created an anonymous survey to know your opinion about it.
During the pandemic, mental disorders have tripled in European children and adolescents. Currently, 16.3 % of all children in Europe aged 10 to 19 suffer from a mental disorder, the equivalent of nine million young people. This increase has not been properly addressed in many Member States.
The most extreme manifestation of mental health disorders is suicide. It is heartbreaking that in Europe 1,200 children and young people between 10 and 19 years old take their lives annually, which is equivalent to three young people each day.
Digitalisation is greatly affecting our mental health, especially the younger ones. Many people have developed an obsession with obtaining a greater number of likes and for the image they project on social networks.
On the one hand, we must develop tools to deal with these new disorders. And, on the other hand, we must see the digital transition as an ally. Investing in digital platforms and telemedicine will be very useful, especially for young people, who use them the most.
