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 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)