Message from the President
Dear Friends,
Sincere and very warm greetings for a very happy Winter Solstice, Happy Christmas and a Peaceful New Year 2007.
As 2006 passes away it is time to reflect upon the many developments and achievements in European Mental Health of the last year and our plans for the future. These include the impact of the Green Paper on Mental Health, the Anti-Poverty strategy, the Social Inclusion of people with disabilities in the larger European Union and the better understanding of societal mental health and well being which are now being reflected in the National Action Plans of many European member states.
I hope that the commitment of European non governmental organisations (NGOs) to create a better, just and civil society is visible in the activities undertaken by MHE in its many projects and partnerships to share good practice and to advance the needs of those who experience mental ill health, discrimination or social exclusion.
2007 is going to be very significant for MHE. The Vienna Conference "No Health without Mental Health – from the Slogan to Reality" in May/June in partnership with Pro-Mente Austria will be a significant forum for raising awareness, advancing understanding and sharing good practice related to a range of aspects of societal Mental Health and Well Being.
It is my hope that the positive vision of MHE will be reflected in the policies and programmes of European member states so that many vulnerable groups, including children and families, carers and the elderly will be able to live a better and healthier life in the expanding new Europe.
As we welcome Bulgaria and Romania to the European Union our aim is that they can build upon the experiences of the recent Accession Countries in advancing their plans for the development of positive Mental Health services including community care provision and de-institutionalisation.
I wish to thank all those who support Mental Health Europe, including the many members in so many countries, including service users and ex-users, families and carers; we value your support!
I also wish to thank all the members of the MHE Board and the Executive Committee who share their skills, time and energy in order to advance our commitment to positive Mental Health in the new European Union.
I wish to thank all MHE staff, in particular our Director Mary Van Dievel, in their work in the MHE headquarters in Brussels. Their work is central to the achievement of our vision of enabling MHE to become the leading European Mental Health voice.
I particularly wish to thank John Bowis MEP (Member of the European Parliament) for his commitment to Mental Health issues in Europe and for giving MHE the opportunity to share the principles of Societal Mental Health and Well Being at the European Parliament meeting in September 2006. I feel very positive about the future of MHE’s work and the potential for further collaboration with a range of European partners.
I thank all my colleagues and friends for their support, challenge and encouragement.
Most of all I wish to thank all those people who experience mental ill health, discrimination and social exclusion in their daily lives who teach us so much about the impact of social disadvantage and I wish them and their families a healthier New Year and with the hope for continuing improvements in their lives.
All the best for the New Year 2007,
Malgorzata Kmita
President, Mental Health Europe
Sincere and very warm greetings for a very happy Winter Solstice, Happy Christmas and a Peaceful New Year 2007.
As 2006 passes away it is time to reflect upon the many developments and achievements in European Mental Health of the last year and our plans for the future. These include the impact of the Green Paper on Mental Health, the Anti-Poverty strategy, the Social Inclusion of people with disabilities in the larger European Union and the better understanding of societal mental health and well being which are now being reflected in the National Action Plans of many European member states.
I hope that the commitment of European non governmental organisations (NGOs) to create a better, just and civil society is visible in the activities undertaken by MHE in its many projects and partnerships to share good practice and to advance the needs of those who experience mental ill health, discrimination or social exclusion.
2007 is going to be very significant for MHE. The Vienna Conference "No Health without Mental Health – from the Slogan to Reality" in May/June in partnership with Pro-Mente Austria will be a significant forum for raising awareness, advancing understanding and sharing good practice related to a range of aspects of societal Mental Health and Well Being.
It is my hope that the positive vision of MHE will be reflected in the policies and programmes of European member states so that many vulnerable groups, including children and families, carers and the elderly will be able to live a better and healthier life in the expanding new Europe.
As we welcome Bulgaria and Romania to the European Union our aim is that they can build upon the experiences of the recent Accession Countries in advancing their plans for the development of positive Mental Health services including community care provision and de-institutionalisation.
I wish to thank all those who support Mental Health Europe, including the many members in so many countries, including service users and ex-users, families and carers; we value your support!
I also wish to thank all the members of the MHE Board and the Executive Committee who share their skills, time and energy in order to advance our commitment to positive Mental Health in the new European Union.
I wish to thank all MHE staff, in particular our Director Mary Van Dievel, in their work in the MHE headquarters in Brussels. Their work is central to the achievement of our vision of enabling MHE to become the leading European Mental Health voice.
I particularly wish to thank John Bowis MEP (Member of the European Parliament) for his commitment to Mental Health issues in Europe and for giving MHE the opportunity to share the principles of Societal Mental Health and Well Being at the European Parliament meeting in September 2006. I feel very positive about the future of MHE’s work and the potential for further collaboration with a range of European partners.
I thank all my colleagues and friends for their support, challenge and encouragement.
Most of all I wish to thank all those people who experience mental ill health, discrimination and social exclusion in their daily lives who teach us so much about the impact of social disadvantage and I wish them and their families a healthier New Year and with the hope for continuing improvements in their lives.
All the best for the New Year 2007,
Malgorzata Kmita
President, Mental Health Europe
MHE develops "Test for the German EU Presidency on Mental Health"
Germany, who will take over the EU Presidency from Finland on 1st January 2007, presented recently its priorities for its 6 months term. These priorities include: to take up the issue of the future of the European Constitution, to bring the EU closer to the citizens, and to prepare a declaration for March 2007 (50th anniversary of the Rome Treaty) expressing the objectives and hopes of European construction of the next half century. In the area of Health, the German Presidency has three key issues: Health Promotion, Innovation, and Access to Healthcare. The Presidency is aiming to finalise the health action programme until 2013, to develop a Community framework on health services and co-operate with WHO on health promotion.
The German Presidency will work closely with the following two Presidencies, the Portuguese and Slovenian Presidency, with a view to best achieving the objectives set out in the programme. To this end they will also cooperate with the other institutions of the European Union and in particular with the Commission and the European Parliament on the basis of their respective competences.
Mental Health Europe has prepared a "Test for the German EU Presidency on Mental Health" that may help the European Union to move towards a more social Europe respectful of the fundamental rights of all, especially those who experience mental health problems.
Test for the German EU Presidency on Mental Health EN.pdf (English version)
Test for the German EU Presidency on Mental Health DE.pdf (German version)
MHE representation at various meetings
On 1 December, Mari Fresu,
Project Coordinator, represented MHE at the 4th meeting of the DG SANCO
Stakeholder Involvement Peer Review Group, which took place in Brussels.
On 5-6 December, Malgorzata Kmita, President, Mary Van Dievel, Director, Elisabeth Muschik, Vice-President, Josée Van Remoortel, Senior Policy Advisor, Sogol Noorani, Project Coordinator, and Fanny Muller, Information Officer, attended the Social Platform Annual Conference, "Social Values and Democracy: Renewing the guiding principles of the European Union" in Brussels (Belgium).
On 6 December, the MHE Executive Committee met in Brussels. It was attended by Malgorzata Kmita, Elisabeth Muschik, Colette Versporten, Board member, Josée Van Remoortel and Mary Van Dievel.
On 7 December, Elisabeth Muschik represented MHE at the Social Platform Steering Group, which was held in Brussels.
On the same day, Fanny Muller participated in the Social Platform Media Training for Press and Information Officers, organised also in Brussels.
On 13 December, Mari Fresu, represented MHE at the European Public Health Alliance (EPHA) Extraordinary General Assembly in Brussels.
On 14-15 December, Elisabeth Muschik took part in the Social Platform study visit to Slovenia.
On 5-6 December, Malgorzata Kmita, President, Mary Van Dievel, Director, Elisabeth Muschik, Vice-President, Josée Van Remoortel, Senior Policy Advisor, Sogol Noorani, Project Coordinator, and Fanny Muller, Information Officer, attended the Social Platform Annual Conference, "Social Values and Democracy: Renewing the guiding principles of the European Union" in Brussels (Belgium).
On 6 December, the MHE Executive Committee met in Brussels. It was attended by Malgorzata Kmita, Elisabeth Muschik, Colette Versporten, Board member, Josée Van Remoortel and Mary Van Dievel.
On 7 December, Elisabeth Muschik represented MHE at the Social Platform Steering Group, which was held in Brussels.
On the same day, Fanny Muller participated in the Social Platform Media Training for Press and Information Officers, organised also in Brussels.
On 13 December, Mari Fresu, represented MHE at the European Public Health Alliance (EPHA) Extraordinary General Assembly in Brussels.
On 14-15 December, Elisabeth Muschik took part in the Social Platform study visit to Slovenia.