Putting Mental Health on the EU policy agenda 2017

Putting mental health promotion, resilience and prevention on the EU agenda

Kristian Wahlbeck

Mental health is shaped early in life

Half of all mental disorders start before age 0f 15

NIH/NIDA: A child’s first eight years are critical for substance abuse prevention

29.4.2017 EU mental health policy3

“There is strong evidence that a stable home environment, adequate nutrition, physical and cognitive stimulation, and supportive parenting can lead to good developmental outcomes.”

Source: NIH/NIDA 2016

Mental health determinants & riskfactors: Growing evidence base


Socio-economic determinants(poverty, social exclusion)

Alcohol and illegal drug use

Common for all NCDs Specific for mental health

Early interaction deficitsNeglect, abuse and harsh

upbringingSchool bullying

Work place stressLack of social support &

networksCommunity environment

Development of mentallyhealthy environments

The European Pillar of Social Rights-supports action on the social determinants of

mental health

29.4.2017 EU mental health policy

• The right to health care• Children’s right to early

childhood education• The right to social protection

regardless of employment status

Online social score board will enable transparent benchmarking

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Grant Agreement no. 282586

High Level Research

Priorities

1. Research into mental disorder prevention, mental health promotion and other interventions in children, adolescents and young people

2. Focus on the development and causal mechanisms of mental health symptoms, syndromes and well-being across the lifespan (including older populations)

3. Developing and maintaining international and interdisciplinary research networks and shared databases

4. Developing and implementing better interventions using new scientific and technological advances

5. Reducing stigma and empowering service users and carers in decisions about mental health research

6. Health and social systems research that addresses quality of care and takes account of socio-cultural and socio-economic contexts and approaches


Social determinantsof mental health

Mental healthpromotion

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Social determinantsof mental health

Mental healthpromotion

Mental Health in AllPolicies

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Mental Health in All Policies (MHiAP)

Health in All Policies is an approach to public policies

across sectors that systematically takes into account the

health implications of decisions, seeks synergies, and

avoids harmful health impacts in order to improve

population health and health equity.

It provides a framework for regulation and practical

tools that combine health, social and equity goals with

economic development, and manage conflicts of

interest transparently.


www.mentalhealthandwellbeing.eu

Successful mental health actions buildon intersectoral collaboration

EU Compass will co-organise country meetingsto disseminate Joint Action findings and initiatean interest for the ”Mental Health in AllPolicies” approach

EU-Compass for Mental Health and Well-being (2016-2018)

• Exchange of mental health information between Member States and

dissemination of Joint Action (2013-2016) outcomes

• Annual reports and forums

• Website hosted by the DG SANTE

• Database of good practices and policies

• E-newsletter and country meetings

• Mandated by the Commission, implemented by Trimbos (Co-ordinator),

Nova University Lisbon, Eurohealthnet and The Finnish Association for

Mental Health (mieli)

Parity of mental and physical health: The NCD challenge

We need to take the step from the ”four diseases, four risk factors” model to

”five diseases, five risk factors”

Diet

Exercise

Alcohol

Tobacco

Adverse childhood events


CardiovascularDiabetes

Chronic respiratoryCancer

Mental disorders


• Going upstream: Structural determinantsof mental health

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PovertyGender inequalityWar and conflictsSocial exclusionIncome inequality

Going uphill – promoting mentally friendly EU policies 2017

Making good use of EU Compass Country Meetings for mental health in all policies

Making Member States accountable bya public scoring board like the EU Pillarof Social rights

Boldness to address structuraldeterminants of mental health

Health & Medicine

Putting Mental Health on the EU policy agenda 2017