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 and mentally healthy 2008!
The Mental Health Europe (MHE) Annual Work Plan for the year 2008 in the area of social inclusion will have as its overall goal to develop and strengthen MHE's capacities and that of its member organisations, including people with mental health problems, who are at risk of poverty and social exclusion, to inform and influence employment and social policy and processes at the local, national, regional and European level with a view to better reflecting the needs of people with (a history of) mental health problems.
Under this overall goal, the main thematic emphasis will be given to the upcoming review of the renewed Lisbon Strategy and especially the preparation of the new National Strategies 2008-2011. As part of this process, MHE will closely monitor and follow-up the Commission Communications on active inclusion and on social services of general interest, as a means to promote the active and social inclusion of people with (a history of) mental health problems who are amongst those furthest from the labour market. MHE will make use its gathered knowledge in the above fields to contribute to the preparation of a renewed Social Agenda, as well as to other general reflections on the EU and its future missions.
In order to reach these thematic targets, MHE is going to invest in 2008 in three overarching objectives: improving the organisational capacity and management of MHE; reinforcing the European social dimension of the renewed Lisbon strategy for Growth and Jobs to better respond to the challenges and needs of people with (a history of) mental health problems; and continuous exchange and dialogue with EU Institutions and other stakeholders on designing future policies in employment and social fields to better reflect the needs of people with (a history of) mental health problems.
An important part of MHE's work programme will be carried forward by MHE's thematic Committees:
- Human Rights and Mental Health;
- Women and Mental Health;
- Ethnic Minorities and Mental Health.
Do not hesitate to contact us should you wish to contribute to the work of one of these Committees.
The MHE Newsletter and Website will remain important - and according to readers' evaluations useful and welcomed - tools, which will be re-designed in 2008 to ensure the effective dissemination of the above mentioned information, but also information about MHE's activities, the activities of MHE's member organisations, the EU Institutions and other relevant EU-level organisations and networks widely.
In the field of disability MHE will persist to fight for the recognition of people with mental health problems in the frame of the National Disability Councils. People with mental health problems should have the same rights and access to benefit systems as people with any physical disability.
In continuation to the work and the efforts of the latest years, MHE will continue advocating for the achievement of a comprehensive strategy on promoting positive mental health and well-being for all. MHE encourages better cooperation between Member States in order to address inequalities within and between countries.
To this aim, MHE will be actively engaged in the preparation of the June 2008 high level Conference on Mental Health, which will lead to the launch of the new Mental Health Pact as announced by the Commission at the end of last year.
MHE will put its efforts to ensure that the foreseen Mental Health Pact adopts a wide-ranging approach to promoting good mental health and well-being, and addresses the whole of the European population across all settings. An effective Mental Health Pact shall also support the implementation of appropriate measures and actions that go beyond the mere execution of a series of thematic conferences.
Last but not least, MHE's conference in 2008 will take place in Aalborg, Denmark, from 7-9 August. The theme of this year's conference is "Diversity in mental health and wellbeing - An opportunity for intercultural dialogue".
The conference theme is inspired by the declaration of the European Commission that 2008 will be the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue. Cultural diversity is not limited to the ethnic dimension alone. It has a philosophical dimension (mental health and well-being) and is also related to other areas, e.g. the cultural dimension of the various health systems, the cultural differences that exist in the practice of health professionals and in the provision of care and treatment.
Lectures, a round table and workshops will give opportunity for sharing information, ideas and deepening knowledge and opportunity for exchange of best practices. Participants from all European countries will contribute with experience on diversities within different dimensions of cultures.
For more information, please visit the conference website: http://www.mhe-aalborg.dk/
Nature is just splendid in the North-Denmark region; you may take this opportunity to visit this part of Europe and spend some holidays there. We hope to meet many of you in Aalborg this year!
Mary Van Dievel
Director
MENTAL HEALTH EUROPE 'S RESPONSE TO THE EUROPEAN SOCIAL REALITY STOCKTAKING EXERCISE
In the response to the European Commission public consultation on the "social reality" of Europe today, which has been launched in 2006 and is open until 15 February 2008, MHE has made a strong point of the valuable resource that the mental health and well-being of the European population represents. Good mental health and well-being enables citizens to realise their intellectual and emotional potential and to find and fulfill their roles in social, school and working life. For the European Union, mental health and well-being will contribute to the attainment of some of the EU's strategic policy objectives, such as the EU's Lisbon Strategy. Mental ill-health, on the other hand imposes various costs, losses and burdens on citizens and societal systems.
However, at the present point in time, evidence shows that there are many changes and situations at work in Europe, which in many cases negatively affect the mental health and well-being of people: Stress at the work place has risen over the last years due to various insecurities concerning the below minimum-wage and below decent-life salaries, the increase in working hours, the demands and the competition at work etc. For people who already suffer from mental health problems the main problem is to retain their work place or to have access to work. In many cases, people with mental health problems are discriminated against and denied jobs as a result of the stigma and the fear that they could be "dangerous".
MHE believes that education - especially for children and young people - is a key tool towards social integration and inclusion of people with mental health problems. However, many people with mental health problems experience difficulties in equal access to education. This is especially the case in rural areas and areas that are most affected by poverty.
The social implications of the changing roles of women and men have various consequences for their mental health and well-being. Many positive developments have taken place in this regard in Europe, but on the other hand, social changes have led to a situation, for women and men alike, where insecurity, controversy and indecision is prevalent. This is often exacerbated by the above mentioned, i.e. a highly competitive job market, not enough possibilities for further education and training, an increasing gap between the rich and the poor and welfare states that are not capable to meet the needs of the citizens. MHE believes that due to the stigma and taboo associated with mental ill-health, people with mental health problems are affected by social changes to an even greater extent.
Connected to this is the matter of declining birth rates as well as child poverty. Without adequate attention and assistance child poverty will continue to rise in Europe. Mental illness is an under-recognised but significant contributory factor to child poverty.
The increasing number of elderly people who live alone leads to a rise in higher rates of depression and other mental health problems. The institutionalisation of these people perpetuates their social exclusion and is, in itself, a violation of human rights.
Segregating people, barring them from access to education and employment, denying them the right to choose where and how they live and with whom they associate, solely on the basis of a mental illness label, is unacceptable. And this does not only concern a small minority or only the most vulnerable groups, but it concerns society as a whole, the injustices that exist within and the social disintegration and conflict that results from it.
MHE makes a strong plea to restore social equality and life chances, i.e. opportunities that enable individuals to improve their quality of life. Measures of economic reform, within Europe and all over the world, should be targeted not towards the profit of a few but towards the prosperity of all. Unity, diversity and social cohesion can only exist under the condition that everyday life is satisfactory for all, that there are life chances for all and equality for all.
MHE is convinced that at the current state of play, Europe possesses a great deal of knowledge about the different factors that contribute to the shaping and improving of Europe's Social Reality. What is needed now is to translate this knowledge into practice. There is a lot of room for improvement, but this change can only happen if it is based on the principles of social equality, access to opportunities and integration, inclusion and participation of all European citizens.
MHE's full response can be found on the MHE website:
For further information please contact the MHE secretariat:
Email info@mhe-sme.org, Tel +32 2 280 04 68
REMINDER: MHE CONFERENCE "DIVERSITY IN MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING. AN OPPORTUNITY FOR INTERCULTURAL DIALOGUE"
The 2nd announcement with Call for contributions will be available very soon and widely disseminated.
MHE members and other interested organisations and people are kindly invited to already now send in their proposals for the conference workshops!
For more information: the MHE Secretariat, E-mail info@mhe-sme.org, Tel +32 2 280 04 68
NEWS FROM THE DETERMINE PROJECT
The DETERMINE website is now online and will be continuously updated with the ongoing work of the Consortium, of which MHE is a collaborating partner.
To visit the website: http://www.health-inequalities.eu/
The Management Team are going to meet in Prague (Czech Republic) on 28 February 2008 to discuss ongoing work and to make cross - WP (Work Packages) links so that all activities are carried out in a maximal coordinated and cost-efficient manner.
For more information: contact person, Caroline Costongs, Tel +32 2 23 50 320,
Email c.costongs@eurohealthnet.eu
MHE WELCOMES TO A NEW STAGIAIRE
MHE wishes a warm welcome to Clara Gomez, who joined the MHE Secretariat at the beginning of January. Clara is Spanish, she studied political sciences in Madrid and has specialised in Conflict Studies and Gender issues.
She will work on the DAPHNEE III calls for proposals and will stay until May 2007.
To contact Clara: clara.gomez@mhe-sme.org
MHE REPRESENTATION AT VARIOUS MEETINGS
On 9 January, Mari Fresu attended the first meeting of the European Parliament Special Interest Group on Carers, which took place at the European Parliament in Brussels.
On 15 January, Mari Fresu and Fanny Muller participated in a Social Platform Capacity-building, "How to devise communications strategies to better engage member organizations and influence policy markers", in Brussels.
On the same day, Josée Van Remoortel, MHE Senior Policy Officer, attended a meeting of the Social Platform MAC (Management) Committee in Brussels.
On 17 January, Mary Van Dievel and Sogol Noorani met with the Commission's Social Inclusion Unit to discuss the development of performance measures under MHE's triennial PROGRESS work programme.
On 22-23 January, Fanny Muller represented MHE at the Winter Session of the Council of Europe INGOs Conference in Strasbourg (France).
On 23-25 January, Mary Van Dievel and Sogol Noorani attended the SMES-EUROPA 10th Conference, "After 15 years...looking backward in order to go forward" which took place in Rome (Italy).
On 24 January, Josée Van Remoortel participated in the Policy meeting of the Complex Needs Study in Brussels.
On the same day, Clara Gomez represented MHE at the EU Civil Society Contact Group conference, "Building a value based EU budget for the future - What role for NGOs?", held in Brussels.