MHE CONTRIBUTE TO THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION CONSULTATION ON THE ACTIVE INCLUSION OF PEOPLE FURTHEST FROM THE LABOUR MARKET
The European Commission launched a public consultation on the active inclusion of people furthest from the labour market that was closed on 28 February. The concept of active inclusion combines income support at a level sufficient for people to have a dignified life with a link to the labour market through job opportunities or vocational training and through better access to enabling social services. MHE invited all its members to have their say and to comment on the consultation paper, and submitted based on the replies a common MHE position on active inclusion.
In its contribution MHE emphasised that in the field of employment people with mental health problems are among the largest group of unemployed in all EU Member States. The situation can be especially hard for young people experiencing mental illness who are at the beginning of their lives and careers. In all Member States there is a general lack of job opportunities for people with mental health problems; there is much stigma and discrimination, and myths about mental illness among employers are widespread. Most efforts directed at vulnerable groups are concentrated on people with disabilities, and employment services do not know how to deal with the specific needs of people with mental health problems.
In view of developing common active inclusion principles and recommendations for an active inclusion strategy, MHE highlighted the following points:
- It must be ensured that the principles of the Lisbon strategy, to promote growth and jobs AND to promote social progress and social cohesion by fighting poverty and social exclusion applies to people who experience a mental illness so that they remain socially included and can participate in economic, social and community life.
- MHE is concerned that any active inclusion measures must not only target the working age population, and disadvantage or neglect younger and retired people, but equal access to the range of health promotion, treatment and care as well as social services and support should be assured for the whole population.
- Steps towards a successful social and economic integration of people with mental health problems must include a guaranteed basic income for an adequate time span and, at the same time, a diverse range of options for the reintegration of people with mental health problems into the labour market. Social Firms offer but one possibility for giving people a chance of integration and resettlement in the labour market.
- Efforts need to be strengthened to promote the sustainability and continuity of health and social services and their coordination at local level. Job centres must build relationships with community mental health teams and also work with local employers. Fighting stigma, prejudice and discrimination of people with mental health problems at the same time as promoting active inclusion measures is crucial.
- The Open Method of Coordination can be made instrumental in promoting active inclusion through the involvement of people of people with mental health problems and NGOs (Non Governmental Organisations) in mutual learning and exchange of good practices on ways of ensuring a decent minimum income for people with mental health problems as well as a fair regulation of the compatibility between work and social benefits.
- The European Social Fund and other financial instruments must support the work of health and social service providers, many of them NGOs that are offering various initiatives for vocational training or professional rehabilitation programmes but in the face of huge financial constraints. The role of social partners is essential for the successful implementation of the active inclusion approach, especially in the design, monitoring, implementation and evaluation of initiatives.
- MHE believes that social inclusion and active inclusion must go beyond the principle of individual rights alone and more towards collective solidarity and action.
The full MHE contribution on active inclusion can soon be found on the MHE website. For inquiries please contact Sogol Noorani at the MHE Secretariat at sogol.noorani@mhe-sme.org
NEW PROJECT: HELPS - EUROPEAN NETWORK FOR PROMOTING THE HEALTH OF RESIDENTS IN PSYCHIATRIC AND SOCIAL CARE INSTITUTIONS
Mental Health Europe is involved in a new European Network for Promoting the Health of Residents in Psychiatric and Social Care Institutions (HELPS). The HELPS project is funded by the European Commission and will officially start in March 2008. The overarching aim of this project is to improve the physical health status of residents with mental disorders, mental disability or dependency living in social and health care Institutions.
Residents in health and social care Institutions for people with mental health problems have a poor physical health status resulting in reduced life expectancy.
This is incompatible with the protection of human rights and dignity. There are no specific policies to improve the health status of residents in such care Institutions.
The project will bring together a multi-disciplinary consortium to:
· identify best practice across Europe for health promotion in mental health and social care Institutions across Europe;
· develop a health promoting tool that will empower residents and staff to identify the most relevant risk factors in their specific context and subsequently select the most appropriate action out of a range of defined health promoting interventions; and
· disseminate the information gathered in the project and the intervention tool.
For more information on HELPS, please visit the project website at http://www.helps-net.eu/index.htm or write to Mari Fresu, MHE Policy Officer, at mari.fresu@mhe-sme.org
REMINDER: MHE CONFERENCE "DIVERSITY IN MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING. AN OPPORTUNITY FOR INTERCULTURAL DIALOGUE"
MHE members and other interested organisations and people are kindly invited to already now send in their proposals for the conference workshops at abstracts@mhe-aalborg.dk
For more information: the MHE Secretariat, E- mail info@mhe-sme.org, Tel +32 2 280 04 68, or visit the Conference dedicated website, http://www.proremus.dk/mhe/
MHE REPRESENTATION AT VARIOUS MEETINGS
On 6 February, Mari Fresu, Policy Officer, attended the EPHA (European Public Health Alliance) Policy Coordination meeting in Brussels.
On 7-8 February, Clara Gomez, trainee, participated in a Conference organised at the European Economic and Social Committee in Brussels, on the theme "The renewed Lisbon Strategy 2008-2010: How to deliver more and better. The role of organised civil society".
On 21-22 February, Mari Fresu represented MHE at the ProMenPol PCC meeting in Dublin (Ireland).
On 25 February, Elisabeth Muschik, MHE Vice-president, and Sogol Noorani, Policy Officer, participated in a meeting of the Social Platform Social Policy Working Group in Brussels.
On 26 February, Fanny Muller attended a meeting of the Social Platform FRAND (Fundamental Rights and Non Discrimination) Working Group in Brussels.
On 27-28 February, Mary Van Dievel and Mari Fresu participated in a preparatory meeting of the high level Conference on Mental Health, scheduled for June 2008, in Luxembourg.
On 27-29 February, Josée Van Remoortel, MHE Senior Policy Advisor, and Olivia Merlet, trainee, represented MHE at the 3rd Advocacy France Forum on a citizen's mental health policy, "Choisir sa vie: l'égalité des chances pour une vie indépendante" ("Choosing how to live your life: Equal opportunity for Independent Living"), which was organised in Paris (France).