MHE Committee on Mental Health and Women

The MHE Committee on Women and Mental Health was established in 1992.

Objectives 

The Committee aims to strengthen the voice of women with mental health problems throughout Europe and recognise the diversity of women’s experiences within the context of their own countries.

The Committee wishes to emphasise the need for European Action for Mental Health and a new Road Map which will establish mental health and well being as the key concept in delivering gender equality, public health programmes, human rights and equality-based societies.

The Committee functions with reference to the Gender Equality Agenda, women’s human rights within the context of European Union policies and in collaboration with the MHE Committee on Human Rights and Mental Health and the MHE Committee on Ethnic Minorities and Mental Health.

It operates within the Convention on the Rights of persons with Disabilities and their rights to: civil and political life, access to services, participation and inclusion, their rights to education, leisure, health, employment, social protection.

The Committee consults with the European Women’s Lobby, the European Anti-Poverty Network (EAPN) and Social Platform among others in order to mainstream the mental health needs of women.

The Committee operates with reference to the EU Council of ministers Directive which stresses the principles of equal treatment between men and women, including elimination of discrimination of women in the economic and insurance sectors, stating that all discrimination is illegal.

Composition

The Committee is currently composed of:

Chair: Colette Versporten, MHE Board member

Coordinator:  Josée Van Remoortel, MHE Senior Policy Officer

Sandra Grant, MHE Board member

Malgorzata Kmita, MHE President

Elisabeth Muschik, Pro Mente Austria

Mary Van Dievel, Director MHE

Josée Van Remoortel, Senior Policy Advisor MHE

Marita Ruohonen, the Finnish Association for Mental Health

Kristina Salonen, Finland  

Committee documents     

(soon available, work in progress) 

Minutes of previous meetings      

Committee's text of reference

Work Plan 2008-2010

Contact person 

Josée Van Remoortel

MHE Senior Policy Officer

Coordinator MHE Committee on Mental Health and Women

Email info@mhe-sme.org and vanremoorteljosee@skynet.be

Tel +32 2 280 04 68

Fax +32 2 280 16 04