Council conclusions

of 15 November 2001

on combating stress and depression-related problems

(2002/C 6/01)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

1. RECALLS the Council Regulation of 18 November 1999 on the promotion of mental health(1) which stated inter alia that the Commission should consider to incorporate activities on the theme of mental health in future action programmes for public health, such as exchange of information and good practices, networking, as well as the Council Regulation of 29 June 2000 on action on health determinants, which addressed inter alia determinants of mental health;

2. NOTES that the common position adopted by the Council on 31 July 2001 on a programme of Community action in the field of public health states that the overall aim of the public health programme must contribute towards the attainment of a high level of both physical and mental health and well-being and provides inter alia for the preparation and implementation of strategies and measures on mental health through action on health determinants;

3. WELCOMES the European Conference on "Coping with stress and depression-related problems in Europe" held in Brussels from 25 to 27 October 2001, which highlighted the importance of effective prevention of stress and depression-related problems;

4. RECOGNISES that stress and depression-related problems and their intergenerational transmission are of major importance to all age groups and are significant contributors to the burden of disease and the loss of quality of life within the European Union;

5. UNDERLINES that stress and depression-related problems are common, cause human suffering and disability, increase the risk of social exclusion, increase mortality, and have negative implications for national economies;

6. RECOGNISES that, while there are effective methods to prevent stress and depression-related problems, there is a need to further develop research and methods for intervention, in order to promote mental health and to prevent stress and depression;

7. RECOGNISES the importance of promoting mental health through actions across all policies and activities, particularly as regards stress and depression determinants, by developing strategies for tackling stress and depression-related problems;

8. CONSIDERS that there is a need to enhance the visibility of these problems especially with a view to their prevention, early diagnosis, and early treatment;

9. WELCOMES the WHO World Health Report 2001 "Mental health: new understanding, new hope" and considers it important to cooperate, in a coordinated way in the field of mental health, in particular on stress and depression-related problems, with the World Health Organisation as well as with other international organisations;

10. RECOGNISES the need for addressing the problems of stress and depression in the increased cooperation with applicant countries;

11. INVITES the Member States to:

- give due attention to the impact of stress and depression-related problems in all age groups and ensure that these problems are recognised; in this context, give special attention to the increasing problem of work-related stress and depression,

- take actions to improve knowledge on the promotion of mental health and the prevention of stress and depression-related problems in primary care and other health services as well as in social services,

- collect good quality data on stress and depression-related problems and share them with other Member States and the Commission,

- develop, implement and evaluate actions to prevent stress and depression-related problems and to promote the exchange of good practices and joint projects within the Member States;

12. INVITES the Commission in the context of the programmes of action in the field of public health, to:

- facilitate the collection of comparable data on the characteristics, determinants and causes of stress and depression,

- consider undertaking activities on the theme of stress and depression-related problems, such as facilitating exchange of information, experience, and good practices concerning recognition, prevention and monitoring of stress and depression-related problems,

- consider opportunities to prevent stress and depression in the definition and implementation of relevant Community policies and activities which shall complement national policies,

- consider developing strategies for the prevention of stress and depression-related problems.

Done at Brussels on 15 November 2001.

(1) OJ C 86, 24.3.2000, p. 1.