Council conclusions of 15 November 2001 on combating stress and depression-related problems
Date: 2001-11-15
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: EU Member State, cooperation policy, disease prevention, mental stress, occupational psychology

9.1.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 6/1

I

(Information)

COUNCIL

Council conclusions

of 15 November 2001

on combating stress and depression-related problems

(2002/C 6/01)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

the Commission should consider

1. RECALLS the Council Regulation of 18 November 1999 on
the promotion of mental health (1) which stated inter alia
to incorporate
that
activities on the theme of mental health in future action
programmes
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 deter-
minants of mental health;

for public health,

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 inter-
vention, in order to promote mental health and to prevent
stress and depression;

actions

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

policies

across

and

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 prep-
aration and implementation of strategies and measures on
mental health through action on health determinants;

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 (cid:145)Mental
health: new understanding, new hope(cid:146) 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;

3. WELCOMES the European Conference on (cid:145)Coping with
stress and depression-related problems in Europe(cid:146) held in
Brussels from 25 to 27 October 2001, which highlighted
the importance of effective prevention of
stress and
depression-related problems;

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

intergenerational

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

and are

groups

to all

age

11.

INVITES the Member States to:

(cid:151) give due attention to the impact of

depression-related problems
ensure that
context, give
problem of work-related stress and depression,

these problems are recognised;

attention to the

stress and
in all age groups and
in this
increasing

special

common,

5. UNDERLINES that stress and depression-related problems
cause human suffering and disability,
increase mortality,

are
increase the risk of social exclusion,
and have negative implications for national economies;

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

(cid:151) take actions to improve knowledge on the promotion
of mental health and the prevention of stress and
depression-related problems
and
in primary care
other health services as well as in social services,

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Official Journal of the European Communities

9.1.2002

(cid:151) collect good quality data on stress and depression-
related problems and share them with other Member
States and the Commission,

implement and evaluate actions to prevent
(cid:151) develop,
stress
to
promote the exchange of good practices and joint
projects within the Member States;

depression-related

problems

and

and

12. INVITES the Commission in the context of the programmes

of action in the field of public health, to:

(cid:151) facilitate the collection of comparable data on the
characteristics, determinants and causes of stress and
depression,

(cid:151) consider undertaking activities on the theme of stress
and depression-related problems, such as facilitating
exchange of
good
practices concerning recognition, prevention and moni-
toring of stress and depression-related problems,

information,

experience,

and

(cid:151) consider opportunities to prevent stress and depression
relevant
shall

in the definition and implementation of
Community
complement national policies,

activities which

policies

and

(cid:151) consider developing strategies for the prevention of

stress and depression-related problems.

Done at Brussels on 15 November 2001.