Follow-up of the WHO/Euro Declaration and Action Plan on Mental Health
The Action Plan proposed ways and means of developing, implementing and reinforcing comprehensive mental health policies in the countries of the WHO European Region, requiring action in 12 areas:
- promote mental well-being for all;
- demonstrate the centrality of mental health;
- tackle stigma and discrimination;
- promote activities sensitive to vulnerable stages;
- prevent mental health problems and suicide;
- ensure access to good primary care for mental health problems;
- offer effective-care in community-based services for people with severe mental health problems;
- establish partnerships across sectors;
- create a sufficient and competent workforce;
- establish good mental health information;
- provide fair and adequate funding;
- evaluate effectiveness and generate new evidence.
It was expected that countries would reflect on these policies in their own mental health strategies and plans, to determine what will be delivered over the next five and ten years. Through the Declaration, WHO has committed to several responsibilities in the years to come.
MHE was an active partner, in terms of providing information, research, policy and service development and advocacy.
On 3 June 2005, MHE organised a seminar for its member organisations and European Non Governmental Organisations (ENGOs) active in the mental health field: “The WHO/Euro Declaration and Action Plan on Mental Health: the Way Forward”. WHO/Euro Regional Adviser for Mental Health Matt Muijen gave information on the plans of WHO/Euro, and European Commision Representatives Wallis Goelen and Jürgen Scheftlein gave their view on the role the EC can play.
Four MHE member organisations (Austria, Finland, Ireland and Slovakia) gave examples of how mental health NGOs can get involved in the implementation of the Declaration and Action Plan in their country.
It is now 1 year ago that your Ministers of Health signed the Declaration and Action Plan. We would like to know from you what has happened in your country. We invite you to send us a brief report on what action your government has undertaken in the 12 areas mentioned above, and how your organisation has been involved.
The Declaration and the Action plan, as well as other documents, among which 14 briefing sheets on various topics are available on the Conference website:
http://www.euro.who.int/mentalhealth2005
For more information: MHE secretariat, Tel +32 2 280 04 68, Fax +32 2 280 16 04, E-mail : info@mhe-sme.org
General Assembly and Seminar – Reminder!
The seminar on Friday afternoon 12 May will be dedicated to the consultation on the European Commission Green Paper “Improving the mental health of the population - Towards a strategy on mental health for the European Union” and to the state of the Non Governmental Organisations role in the World Health Organization - Europe Action Plan on Mental Health.
The “business agenda” of our General Assembly on Saturday morning 13 May will of course include the approval of the activity report, accounts, budget, Board elections, etc., but also a special session on the work of the MHE Committee on Human Rights and Mental Health.
More info to follow in March!
For more information: the MHE Secretariat, info@mhe-sme.org, Tel + 32 2 280 04 68
European Coalition for Community Living
It is a Europe wide invitation to work towards the social inclusion of people with disabilities by providing comprehensive and quality community based services as an alternative to institutionalisation.
The ECCL advocates for and monitor progress towards deinstitutionalisation in Europe.
It is a cross disability initiative which targets all actors involved in the process of deinstitutionalisation.
The ECCL is open to organs or institutions committed to the promotion of community based services.
For further information: the ECCL website, http://www.community-living.info
MHE representation at various meetings
Claude Deutsch, President, represented MHE at the General Assembly of the International Non Governmental Organisations (INGOs) with participation status with the Council of Europe, which was held in Strasbourg, France, on 24-26 January 2006.
On 1st February 2006 Mari Fresu, Project Coordinator, Fanny Muller, Trainee, Sogol Noorani, Project Coordinator, Mary Van Dievel, Director and Josée Van Remoortel, Senior Policy Advisor, visited Paul Arteel at the Flemish Mental Health Association, and Erik Stevens at the Psychiatric Hospital St. Jan de Deo, in Gent, Belgium.
Elisabeth Muschik participated in the Social Platform Policy Working Group in Brussels, on 8 February 2006, and in the Social Platform Seminar on Social Services of General Interest, in Brussels, Belgium, on 9 February 2006.
From 16-18 February 2006 Mari Fresu, John Henderson, Senior Policy Advisor and Mary Van Dievel assisted to the Mental Health Economics European Network (MHEEN) partners meeting, which was organised by the London School of Economics and MHE in Barcelona, Spain.
On 17 February 2006 Sogol Noorani participated in the meeting between the European Commission and the European Networks active in the social inclusion process, which was held in Brussels, Belgium.
On 20 February 2006 John Henderson and Colette Versporten, MHE Board Member, attended the European Commission Working Party on Mental Health, in Luxembourg, Luxembourg.
Mary Van Dievel assisted to the Grundtvig II partners meeting (Training of trainers) in Brussels, on 20 February 2006.
Mari Fresu and Mary Van Dievel represented MHE at the Information Day on the Call for Proposals in the framework of the Public Health Programme, which was held in Luxembourg, on 22 February 2006.
Mary Van Dievel participated in the Exploratory discussion on the European Commission Green Paper on Mental Health, organised by The Centre, Eufami, Rethink and AstraZeneca, in Brussels, on 23 February 2006.