Message from the Director
Dear readers,
We hope the New Year started well for all of you.
The Mental Health Europe team sends you its best wishes for a happy, healthy and most of all mentally healthy 2007.
The Mental Health Europe team, keen to support its member organisations and individual members in 2007, is now composed of:
In 2007 MHE will be carrying out a work programme with the title “From Exclusion to Inclusion: Making social inclusion a reality for people with mental health problems in the European Union” which will be co-financed by the EC Programme “Support to European Networks involved in the fight against poverty and social exclusion”. The programme builds on the initial results and lessons learned from the current MHE project on good practices for combating social exclusion of people with mental health problems. Indeed, the first phase of the project, which consisted in an analysis of the current situation of social exclusion of people with mental health problems in the involved 10 partner countries, made apparent that there is an urgent need for concerted efforts and actions in all the EU Member States to break the vicious cycle of social exclusion. The present work programme aims to build on the above mentioned and to increase efforts to raise awareness at the local, national, regional and European level.
The expected result of the present work programme is to promote the social inclusion of people with mental health problems, i.e. to work towards a European Society in which all people enjoy a high level of mental health, live as full citizens and have access to their human rights and to appropriate services and support when needed, through a better integration of mental health issues into the social inclusion process at the local, national, regional and European level.
Mental Health Europe counts on all its member organisations to help and support us to carry out this ambitious programme.
Mental Health Europe will continue to raise awareness of the importance of mental health promotion and prevention of mental disorders, and will to this end co-operate with other organisations in European projects on this issue. Unfortunately MHE cannot for the moment take the lead in European projects in this field, given the high level of co-financing requested by the European Commission’s Public Health Programme.
MHE intends to organise awareness raising events for members of European Parliament, in follow up of the one successfully organised with the support of John Bowis, Member of the European Parliament, in September 2006.
Also in the field of disability MHE will continue to fight for inclusion of people with mental health problems in the National Disability Councils. People with mental health problems should have the same rights to benefit systems as people with a physical disability.
MHE will continue to follow up on the next developments related to the European Commission Green Paper on the mental health of the EU population.
MHE believes it is important to ensure a public health approach to positive mental health for all populations in the Member States of the EU. An EU strategy focusing instead on the burden of mental disorders will lead to neglect the importance of the key competencies of the EU in public health promotion of positive mental health and well being and the prevention of mental disorders.
MHE also notes that medical models of mental health are still dominant in some EU countries and may obscure the social causes and contexts of mental distress. MHE would like to launch a discussion on the terms to be used: Mental health? Mental well-being? We should find a term that all European citizens can readily relate to their own lives and experiences.
An important part of MHE’s work programme will be carried forward by MHE’s Committees:
And last but not least, there will be our conference in Vienna, from 31 May – 2 June 2007. Mental Health Europe together with Pro Mente Austria is working very hard on the conference programme which will be available soon.
The conference will be preceded by a capacity building seminar on 30 May. More info also to follow soon!
And our General Assembly 2007 will be held in the afternoon of 2 June, at the end of the conference.
Again a year full of challenges ahead!
We hope that we can count on your continuing support.
Mary Van Dievel,
Director
We hope the New Year started well for all of you.
The Mental Health Europe team sends you its best wishes for a happy, healthy and most of all mentally healthy 2007.
The Mental Health Europe team, keen to support its member organisations and individual members in 2007, is now composed of:
- Benoit Broekmans, part-time accountant
- Mariantonietta Fresu, project co-ordinator for the Mental Health Economics project
- Fanny Muller, information officer
- Sogol Noorani, project co-ordinator for the EU project on Good Practices to combate social exclusion of people with mental health problems
- Marie-Christine Terlaeken, part-time administrative assistant
- Mary Van Dievel, director
- John Henderson, Senior Policy Adviser
- Josée Van Remoortel, Senior Policy Adviser
- Xavier Van Quickenborne, administration.
In 2007 MHE will be carrying out a work programme with the title “From Exclusion to Inclusion: Making social inclusion a reality for people with mental health problems in the European Union” which will be co-financed by the EC Programme “Support to European Networks involved in the fight against poverty and social exclusion”. The programme builds on the initial results and lessons learned from the current MHE project on good practices for combating social exclusion of people with mental health problems. Indeed, the first phase of the project, which consisted in an analysis of the current situation of social exclusion of people with mental health problems in the involved 10 partner countries, made apparent that there is an urgent need for concerted efforts and actions in all the EU Member States to break the vicious cycle of social exclusion. The present work programme aims to build on the above mentioned and to increase efforts to raise awareness at the local, national, regional and European level.
The expected result of the present work programme is to promote the social inclusion of people with mental health problems, i.e. to work towards a European Society in which all people enjoy a high level of mental health, live as full citizens and have access to their human rights and to appropriate services and support when needed, through a better integration of mental health issues into the social inclusion process at the local, national, regional and European level.
Mental Health Europe counts on all its member organisations to help and support us to carry out this ambitious programme.
Mental Health Europe will continue to raise awareness of the importance of mental health promotion and prevention of mental disorders, and will to this end co-operate with other organisations in European projects on this issue. Unfortunately MHE cannot for the moment take the lead in European projects in this field, given the high level of co-financing requested by the European Commission’s Public Health Programme.
MHE intends to organise awareness raising events for members of European Parliament, in follow up of the one successfully organised with the support of John Bowis, Member of the European Parliament, in September 2006.
Also in the field of disability MHE will continue to fight for inclusion of people with mental health problems in the National Disability Councils. People with mental health problems should have the same rights to benefit systems as people with a physical disability.
MHE will continue to follow up on the next developments related to the European Commission Green Paper on the mental health of the EU population.
MHE believes it is important to ensure a public health approach to positive mental health for all populations in the Member States of the EU. An EU strategy focusing instead on the burden of mental disorders will lead to neglect the importance of the key competencies of the EU in public health promotion of positive mental health and well being and the prevention of mental disorders.
MHE also notes that medical models of mental health are still dominant in some EU countries and may obscure the social causes and contexts of mental distress. MHE would like to launch a discussion on the terms to be used: Mental health? Mental well-being? We should find a term that all European citizens can readily relate to their own lives and experiences.
An important part of MHE’s work programme will be carried forward by MHE’s Committees:
- Human Rights and Mental Health;
- Women and Mental Health;
- Ethnic Minorities and Mental Health.
And last but not least, there will be our conference in Vienna, from 31 May – 2 June 2007. Mental Health Europe together with Pro Mente Austria is working very hard on the conference programme which will be available soon.
The conference will be preceded by a capacity building seminar on 30 May. More info also to follow soon!
And our General Assembly 2007 will be held in the afternoon of 2 June, at the end of the conference.
Again a year full of challenges ahead!
We hope that we can count on your continuing support.
Mary Van Dievel,
Director
MHE capacity building seminar – Vienna, 30 May 2007
Mental Health Europe will organise a capacity-building seminar for all its members, preceding its conference and General Assembly in Vienna (Austria).
We especially encourage those organisations that accepted to participate in the MHE programme "From Exclusion to Inclusion: making social inclusion a reality for people with mental health problems in the European Union" to participate in this seminar which will be held on Wednesday 30 May from 9.30-17.30 (time schedule to be confirmed).
The aim of the seminar is:
- to provide assistance, including specialised training, to mental health organisations in order to strengthen their capacity
- to fight the social exclusion of people with mental health problems;
- to make available information about the social inclusion process at the European and national level that mental health organisations can use to improve the situation of social exclusion of people with mental health problems in their countries;
- to promote dialogue and exchange of experiences and information between mental health organisations, within each Member State, at the national, regional and local level;
- to encourage the creation of national networks or platforms for dissemination of relevant European level information for the mental health sector.
The full programme and registration form for this 1-day seminar will soon be sent to MHE members.
For more information: MHE Secretariat, Tel +32 2 280 04 68, E-mail info@mhe-sme.org
MHE conference “No Health without Mental Health – From Slogan to Reality”, Vienna (Austria), 31 May – 2 June 2007
The MHE conference will focus on the outcomes of the consultation process of the European Commission’s Green Paper “Improving he Mental Health of the population” and the upcoming strategy for the next years.
The focus of the conference will be on the connection and the coherence between the different European policies and the impact they have on the mental health of the population. Lectures, roundtable discussions and workshops will give opportunity for sharing information and deepening knowledge but also for exchange of good practice.
Participants coming from all European countries will be encouraged to discuss the possibilities of implementing strategies on mental health throughout the whole life-span and to initiate co-operation between the different organisations and institutions working on mental health issues at the national and European level.
The conference is structured as follows:
the first day will focus on the European level policies and strategies, and their implementation at the national level;
the second day will be devoted to a series of workshops, with contributions from the local, national, regional grassroots level;
on the third day the reports from the Round Tables and Workshops will be presented and Recommendations will be formulated; in a final plenary session, the lessons learned for implementation at the national level will be discussed.
Day 1 – Thursday 31 May, will start with a keynote presentation by Prof Graham Thornicroft on “Mental Health and Wellbeing. Opportunities and benefits of a EU Strategy”.
Three Round Table discussions will be held, on the following themes:
An exciting conference programme! We hope that many of you will actively participate.
For more information: MHE Secretariat, Tel +32 2 280 04 68, E-mail info@mhe-sme.org
The focus of the conference will be on the connection and the coherence between the different European policies and the impact they have on the mental health of the population. Lectures, roundtable discussions and workshops will give opportunity for sharing information and deepening knowledge but also for exchange of good practice.
Participants coming from all European countries will be encouraged to discuss the possibilities of implementing strategies on mental health throughout the whole life-span and to initiate co-operation between the different organisations and institutions working on mental health issues at the national and European level.
The conference is structured as follows:
the first day will focus on the European level policies and strategies, and their implementation at the national level;
the second day will be devoted to a series of workshops, with contributions from the local, national, regional grassroots level;
on the third day the reports from the Round Tables and Workshops will be presented and Recommendations will be formulated; in a final plenary session, the lessons learned for implementation at the national level will be discussed.
Day 1 – Thursday 31 May, will start with a keynote presentation by Prof Graham Thornicroft on “Mental Health and Wellbeing. Opportunities and benefits of a EU Strategy”.
Three Round Table discussions will be held, on the following themes:
- Round Table 1: “From Slogan to Reality: State of the art of the European Commission’s Green Paper on mental health”.
The implementation of a EU strategy for mental health and wellbeing requires the active co-operation of the different EU policy areas. How do/how should the different Directorates General of the European Commission work together on advancing mental health related issues to improve the mental health situation of the population? - Round Table 2: “The significance of mental health and wellbeing, mental health promotion and prevention of mental illness in the context of the implementation of EU policy at country-level”.
Co-operation or concurrence between the national and the European level?
Representatives of both EU, national and local policy makers will discuss the topic in view of the developments and political activities of the EU, and the consequences for the mental health and wellbeing of the population. - Round Table 3: “The role of civil society organisations and other relevant stakeholders in advancing mental health and wellbeing in the EU. The case of employment and working life”.
Representatives of trade unions, employers' organisations, industry and other stakeholders will discuss what their role can/should be in the national implementation of EU policies that are relevant for the mental health of the population in relation to employment. Representatives of mental health service users and of family members/carers, and hopefully also an employer, will respond to the statements made.
- workshop 1 – morning sessions: open meeting of MHE’s Committee on Human Rights and Mental Health.
Afternoon sessions: open meeting of MHE’s Committee on Women and Mental Health. - workshop 2: "What about the participation of civil society? Dialogue and controversy".
In this workshop we expect contributions on user empowerment, carers of people with mental health problems, mental health promotion, ageing, volunteers, capacity-building, etc. - workshop 3: “Final outcomes of the MHE trans-national exchange project “Good Practices for combating social exclusion of people with mental health problems”.
- workshop 4: “Policies for mental health and wellbeing in a globalised Europe”.
The morning sessions will be devoted to an open meeting of the MHE Committee on Ethnic Minorities and Mental Health.
The afternoon sessions will be about employment, non-discrimination and stigma, policy, enlargement, etc. - workshop 5: “Therapeutic interventions and Empowerment Strategies - A Must for Mental Health Promoting Policies”.
- workshop 6: it will consist of a bus tour with guided visit of the ancient Viennese Narrenturm, a community mental health service, an employment initiative, a psychiatric hospital, and a catering-training initiative for people with mental health problems.
An exciting conference programme! We hope that many of you will actively participate.
For more information: MHE Secretariat, Tel +32 2 280 04 68, E-mail info@mhe-sme.org
General Assembly – Vienna (Austria), 2 June 2007
Mental Health Europe will hold its Annual General Assembly after the closing of the conference, on Saturday afternoon 2 June.
MHE representation at various meetings
On 9 January, Mary Van Dievel, Director, attended the European Parliament Disability Intergroup New Years Cocktail, which took place in the European Parliament in Brussels (Belgium). (see p.12)
On 12 January, Sogol Noorani, Project Coordinator, attended the Social Platform meeting to prepare informal Council Meeting on "Good work" and the resolution for the Spring Summit 2007, organised in Brussels.
On 16 January, Josée Van Remoortel, Senior Policy Advisor, participated in the Social Platform’s Membership and Accreditation Committee meeting in Brussels.
On 17 January, Fanny Muller, Information Officer, represented MHE in a meeting on multiple discrimination with representatives of the Danish Institute for Human Rights, organised by the Social Platform in Brussels. (see p.13 )
On 18-19 January, Fanny Muller participated in a Training and Advocacy session on the European Social Charter, organised in Brussels by the Social Platform and the Council of Europe.
On 19 January, Sogol Noorani represented MHE at the European Women’s Lobby seminar on Migrant Women in the European Union.
On the same day, Martine Dutoit, member of the MHE Human Rights Committee, attended the EDF (European Disability Forum) Human Rights Committee meeting in Brussels.
On 23 January, Fanny Muller participated in the NGO Roundtable on the European Parliament's Annual Report on Human Rights in the World 2006 and the European Union's policy on the matter, which was held in the European Parliament in Brussels.
On the same day, Mary Van Dievel represented MHE at the 10th Anniversary event of the EDF and launch of the EDF campaign "1million4disability" in Brussels.
On 24 January, Mari Fresu, Project Coordinator, attended a meeting of the European Public Health Alliance’s (EPHA) Policy Coordinator Group in Brussels.
On 30-31 January, Malgorzata Kmita, President, represented MHE at the European Equality Summit in Berlin (Germany), the official launch of the European Year of Equal Opportunity for All 2007. (see p. 10)
On 30 January - 1 February, Fanny Muller participated in the Council of Europe's INGO (International Non Governmental Organisations) Conference, organised in Strasbourg (France).
More information will follow in due time.
On 12 January, Sogol Noorani, Project Coordinator, attended the Social Platform meeting to prepare informal Council Meeting on "Good work" and the resolution for the Spring Summit 2007, organised in Brussels.
On 16 January, Josée Van Remoortel, Senior Policy Advisor, participated in the Social Platform’s Membership and Accreditation Committee meeting in Brussels.
On 17 January, Fanny Muller, Information Officer, represented MHE in a meeting on multiple discrimination with representatives of the Danish Institute for Human Rights, organised by the Social Platform in Brussels. (see p.13 )
On 18-19 January, Fanny Muller participated in a Training and Advocacy session on the European Social Charter, organised in Brussels by the Social Platform and the Council of Europe.
On 19 January, Sogol Noorani represented MHE at the European Women’s Lobby seminar on Migrant Women in the European Union.
On the same day, Martine Dutoit, member of the MHE Human Rights Committee, attended the EDF (European Disability Forum) Human Rights Committee meeting in Brussels.
On 23 January, Fanny Muller participated in the NGO Roundtable on the European Parliament's Annual Report on Human Rights in the World 2006 and the European Union's policy on the matter, which was held in the European Parliament in Brussels.
On the same day, Mary Van Dievel represented MHE at the 10th Anniversary event of the EDF and launch of the EDF campaign "1million4disability" in Brussels.
On 24 January, Mari Fresu, Project Coordinator, attended a meeting of the European Public Health Alliance’s (EPHA) Policy Coordinator Group in Brussels.
On 30-31 January, Malgorzata Kmita, President, represented MHE at the European Equality Summit in Berlin (Germany), the official launch of the European Year of Equal Opportunity for All 2007. (see p. 10)
On 30 January - 1 February, Fanny Muller participated in the Council of Europe's INGO (International Non Governmental Organisations) Conference, organised in Strasbourg (France).
More information will follow in due time.