Mental health has become a major issue of public health, and economic and social concern across the EU. It is also an issue at work, as poor working environments, including excessive workloads, job insecurity, harassment and discrimination, pose a risk to the mental health of workers.
Parliament calls for an integrated EU Mental Health Strategy
The European Commission proposed a plan to tackle mental health in June 2023. In response, in December 2023 MEPs called on the Commission to draw up a long-term, comprehensive and integrated EU Mental Health Strategy.
Parliament’s resolution urged EU countries to prioritise and improve access to mental health services for vulnerable groups, such as children, adolescents, young adults, LGBTQIA+ persons, patients with chronic conditions and disabilities, elderly people, migrants and ethnic minorities.
With mental health still stigmatised, MEPs argued that there is an urgent need to develop and implement information campaigns, raise awareness and promote open discussions of mental health conditions.
MEPs also insisted that all EU citizens have access to the full range of quality mental health services, without facing financial and administrative difficulties.
Parliament took stock of the progress on the topic in plenary in October 2024, on the occasion of the World Mental Health Day on 10 October. MEPs discussed the need for a comprehensive EU strategy.
Covid-19’s impact on mental health
Work-related psychosocial risks increased as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic that broke out in 2020 and the subsequent economic crisis These had a huge impact on people’s mental health and well-being, which led to higher rates of stress, anxiety and depression.
However, mental health was not treated as a priority in the same way as physical health, Parliament noted in a resolution on mental health in the digital world of work adopted on 5 July 2022.
The resolution adopted by Parliament in 2022 called on the EU institutions and countries to recognise the high level of work-related mental health problems and to find ways to help prevent mental health problems. It also underlined the need to eradicate violence, discrimination and harassment at work.