Mental Health Europe

 

Social Inclusion and Mental Health

 

Mental Health Europe has a history and plays an important role in raising awareness and in combating stigma, discrimination and social exclusion associated with mental illness. Mainstreaming mental health in the social policy field has become one of MHE's principal activities and a major area of concern for people with mental health problems.  

EU policy developments in the field of Social Inclusion

In 2000, EU leaders established the Social Inclusion Process  to make a decisive impact on eradicating poverty by 2010. Through this process, the European Union coordinates and encourages Member State actions to combat poverty and social exclusion, and to reform their social protection systems on the basis of policy exchanges and mutual learning.
The goal of eradicating poverty has unfortunately not been achieved so far, especially since the current financial and economic crisis worsens the living situation of many EU citizens, having an impact on the mental health and wellbeing of the population. The EU's Lisbon strategy is being reformed at the moment and it is foreseen that the heads of states and governments will decide upon the outline of the new strategy which will lead up to the year 2020, during the 2010 Spring European Council meeting.

To read more about EU developments, click here 

MHE key activities in this field 

MHE's Work Plan for the years 2008-2010 - supported by the PROGRESS Community Programme for Employment and Social Solidarity - has the 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  mental health problems."

To read more about MHE activities in the field of social inclusion, click here

MHE contact person 

For more information on social policy related issues, please contact Astrid Mechel, Social Policy Officer, at the MHE secretariat:

Email astrid.mechel@mhe-sme.org

MHE reports and other publications 

Mental health in the National Strategic Reports on Social Protection and Social Inclusion 2008-2010. Analysis of the national reports by MHE members

From Exclusion to Inclusion -the Way Forward to Promoting Social Inclusion of People with Mental Health Problems. An analysis based on national reports from MHE members in 27 EU Members States 

Good Practices for Combating Social Exclusion of People with Mental Health Problems. A collection from ten EU Members States resulting from Mental Health Europe's Transnational Exchange Project 2005-2007 

Leaflet of the MHE Transnational Exchange Project "Good Practices for Combating Social Exclusion of People with Mental Health Problems" 

MHE position papers 

MHE position paper on "Inclusion of Young People with Mental Health Problems into Employment"  (26 October 2009)

MHE Position for the 8th Round Table on Poverty and Social Inclusion (15-16 October 2009)

MHE-Fundación INTRAS Common Statement towards EU next Spanish Presidency (21 September 2009)

MHE-FEANTSA Joint Statement on the issues of homelessness and mental health (10 September 2009)

MHE Position for the 7th Round Table on Poverty and Social Inclusion (15-16 October 2008)

MHE Contribution to the EU Budget Consultation (April 2008) 

MHE Contribution on the EC Consultation on Active Inclusion (28 February 2008)

MHE Position for the 6th Round Table on Poverty and Social Inclusion (16-17 October 2007) 

MHE Position on the EC/BEPA consultation paper on Europe's Social Reality (20 September 2007)  

MHE events 

MHE capacity building seminar for MHE members on the issue of empowerment, Brussels, 12 June 2009

MHE National Focal Points trainings sessions, January-April 2009

MHE and Solidar Workshop at the Social Platform Annual Conference on the topic "What is the role of European NGO networks in bridging the gap between European and national level?" (9-10 December 2008)

MHE Briefing Meeting with Directors of MHE Mental Health Organisations to provide MHE member organisations with an overview of recent developments in the field of EU social and health policy, and to discuss the establishment of MHE national focal points (April 2008) Programme

Final event of the MHE transnational exchange project "Good Practices for combating social exclusion of people with mental health problems", presented on 01 June 2007 in the frame of the Mental Health Europe Conference 2007 in Vienna (June 2007)   

MHE capacity building seminar for members, Vienna, 30 May 2007, to strengthen MHE members' capacity in their fight against social exclusion of people with mental health problems (May 2007)

"No Social Inclusion without Mental Health" - Awareness raising event at the European Parliament organised by MHE together with John Bowis, Member of the European Parliament (September 2006)

Key websites and documents 

European Commission, Directorate General for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunitie

Social Inclusion 

Open Method of Coordination 

National Strategy Reports on Social Protection and Social Inclusion 2008-2010 

Active Inclusion 

Inclusion of Vulnerable Groups 

Social Services of General Interest 

Renewed Social Agenda 

European Year 2010 for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion

Peer Review in Social Protection and Social Inclusion and Assessment in Social Inclusion

Other useful links

Platform of European Social NGOs (Social Platform

European Anti Poverty Network (EAPN) 

European Federation of National Organisations Working with the Homeless (FEANTSA) 

Inclusion Europe 

European Network for Homeless and Mentally Ill People (SMES-Europa) 

Social Firms Europe (CEFEC) 

Solidar

Euro-Psy-Rehabilitation 

Eurodiaconia

Caritas Europa

 

 

Violence Against Women in the workplace: Let's talk about it!

Violence against women at work (thumbnail)

Search our site

Join MHE

Next events

Making steps!

Visit our campaign webpage!

 

Making steps! poster thumbnail