Debate: Mental Health
Date: THURSDAY, 7 APRIL 2022
Speaker: Věra Jourová
Language: EN

Sadly, two major crises have starkly reminded us of that: the COVID—19 pandemic and Russia’s unprovoked military aggression against Ukraine. The brutal invasion of Ukraine has heaped suffering on its innocent people. Over four million people have already been forced to flee their country, leaving homes and loved ones behind. We are also extremely concerned at the psychological consequences of the invasion, especially on children and other vulnerable groups. We are therefore determined and are undertaking various immediate actions so as to offer them the right multi-level support to meet their mental health and well-being needs.  In the past few weeks my colleague, Stella Kyriakides, has visited centres for refugees in Poland, Helsinki and also in my home country of Czechia. In the centre of Poland, Ms Kyriakides witnessed over 8000 people, many of them children, who were sitting in silence. They were experiencing a collective trauma after suddenly having lost everything, the kind of trauma you and I can barely imagine. That’s why we are taking actions and measures and, at the same time, exploring new ways to support the mental health needs of refugees from Ukraine with all our means.  Some of these include training courses and e-learning modules on migration and health, which are available in many languages on our health policy platform and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control website. They build on our experience of meeting migrant and refugee needs in 2015. The Commission is also in touch with Mental Health Europe and several of their member organisations to understand and better respond to the complex challenges on the ground. In addition, under the EU4Health programme, we are intensely working on an agreement with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to provide direct trauma treatment and mental health support on the ground. We will launch a call for proposals this month to implement best practices on the mental health of migrants and refugees so that we can support Ukrainian refugees.  Meanwhile, we also know that the ongoing COVID—19 pandemic will affect the mental health of our citizens for years to come. Since the start of the pandemic, we have taken a range of specific actions to support stakeholders, exchange knowledge and encourage best practice. Let me give you some examples.  The 2021 EU Health Award will reward community—based initiatives, alleviating the mental health impact of COVID—19. The award ceremony on 4 May will pay tribute to several outstanding actions and actors. In the same area, a call under the EU4Health programme to implement best practices tackling mental health challenges during COVID—19 closed on 25 January. Up to EUR 750 000 is available to help roll out two practices. Work on the ground is due to start in the autumn.  Mental health is a prominent and recurrent theme in the Commission’s support for Member States. We have translated our concern into action and ramped up our support for health ministries and stakeholders. Last year saw the start of two major EU funded actions. In the first, ten Member States are working together on best practice around preventing depression. In the second, 21 Member States are working together on suicide prevention and community—based mental health services. The Commission’s financial support totals EUR 7 million. In February, to mark the European Year of Youth, we launched a call for proposals for two best practices, each with a EU 4 million grant, to support the mental health of vulnerable children and young people. This year’s EU4Health work programme also provides for a EUR 1 million direct grant to the age adapted WHO Regional Office for Europe to provide capacity—building support for Member States through training and cross—national learning.  As announced in the EU Strategic Framework on Health and Safety at Work 2021—27, the Commission is also assessing emerging issues related to workers’ mental health, in particular due to the digitalisation of the labour market. By cooperating with Member States and social partners, the Commission aims to develop guidance for action to address relevant challenges.  Given the need for awareness-raising and exchange of good practices on psycho-social risks at work, the European Union Information Agency for Occupational Safety and Health will launch a ‘healthy workplaces’ campaign for the years 2023—25 on creating a safe and healthy digital future, covering in particular psychosocial risks.  Honourable Members, these initiatives are not a one—off. They show we are stepping up our efforts on mental health and we won’t stop there. Further actions will be included under the Commission’s new Healthier Together Initiative to help Member States reduce the burden of non-communicable diseases. Mental health has also been reflected quite strongly in the discussions that took place in the Conference on the Future of Europe.