10 Mental health
| (26932)
13442/05
COM(05) 484
| Commission Green Paper: Improving the mental health of the population. Towards a strategy on mental health for the European Union
|
| Legal base | — |
| Document originated | 14 October 2005
|
| Deposited in Parliament | 20 October 2005
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| Department | Health |
| Basis of consideration | EM of 31 October 2005
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| Previous Committee Report | None
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| To be discussed in Council | No date set
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| Committee's assessment | Politically important
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| Committee's decision | Do not clear; further information requested
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Background
10.1 In January 2005, the World Health Organisation European Ministerial
Conference on Mental Health established a framework for action
on mental health. It invited the European Commission to contribute
to implementing the framework document.
10.2 The Council of Europe also takes an interest
in mental health. For example, in 2002 and 2003 it took part in
conferences on the subject with the World Health Organisation
and the EU; and in 2006 it will initiate work to develop a "European
reference tool for ethics and human rights in mental health".
10.3 The EU currently contributes to the prevention
and treatment of mental illness by, for example, funding research
through its Framework Programmes for Research and Development
and providing grants from the Structural Funds for building mental
health facilities in the regions.
10.4 Article 152 of the EC Treaty provides that
a high level of human health is to be ensured in the definition
and implementation of all Community policies and activities. Community
action should complement action by the Member States and should
be directed to improving public health and preventing illness.
The Council may adopt incentive measures to improve public health,
excluding any harmonisation of the laws and regulations of the
Member States.
The Green Paper
10.5 The Green Paper notes that, in any one year,
about a quarter of adult Europeans experience some form of mental
illness. Every year, about 58,000 Europeans commit suicide (ranging,
in 2002, from 44 for every 100,000 people in Lithuania to 6.8
in the UK and 3.6 in Greece). Mental illness costs between 3%
and 4% of the EU's gross domestic product. The incidence of mental
illness and the arrangements for preventing and treating it vary
between Member States.
10.6 The Green Paper invites comments by the end
of May 2006 on the following questions:
- How relevant is the mental
health of the population to the EU's strategic policy objectives
for economic and social cohesion, growth and jobs and social justice?
- Would the development of a comprehensive EU-strategy
on mental health add value?
- The Green Paper suggests that the priorities
for such a strategy might be: creating a framework for cooperation
and the exchange of information between Member States; helping
increase the coherence of action across policies; and establishing
a framework to involve the providers and users of mental health
services and non-governmental organisations in finding and delivering
solutions. Would these be the right priorities?
- The Green Paper outlines some possible Community
initiatives, including a Council Resolution on the promotion of
mental health; a Council Recommendation on the reduction of depression
and suicidal depression; identification of best practice for promoting
the social inclusion of people with mental ill health and protecting
their rights. Would these initiatives be suitable?
10.7 Late in 2006, the Commission will publish an
analysis of the responses to the Green Paper together with, if
appropriate, proposals for an EU strategy on mental health.
The Government's view
10.8 The Minister for Health Services at the Department
of Health (Ms Rosie Winterton) tells us that the Green Paper's
main proposals are in line with current UK policies on, for example
reducing suicide rates, countering the stigma associated with
mental illness and combating social exclusion.
10.9 The Government will be responding to the Green
Paper. The response has not yet been prepared.
Conclusion
10.10 The Green Paper is mainly concerned with
the improvement of consultation, cooperation and the exchange
of information about mental health. We note that the World Health
Organisation and the Council of Europe are already active in this
field. We should be grateful for the Minister's comments on why
an EU strategy on mental health is needed in addition and whether
the action envisaged by the Commission would duplicate what is
already being done through the activities of the World Health
Organisation and the Council of Europe. We also ask her to send
us a copy of the Government's response to the Green Paper. Pending
receipt of this information, we shall keep the Green Paper under
scrutiny.
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