MHE key activities in the field of Social Inclusion and Mental Health
MHE's Work Plan for the years 2008-2010 - supported by the PROGRESS Community Programme for Employment and Social Solidarity - has 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 mental health problems."
MHE follows 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 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.
MHE National Focal Points
Mental Health Europe has established a system of National Focal Points in 2008. A National Focal Point is a representative from one of MHE's member organisations in a given country who acts as a contact person for MHE and liaises with all the MHE members in their country. The NFPs distribute information about mental health and social inclusion policies from the European level to the relevant stakeholders in their countries and collects feedback and expertise from the national level and reports back to the European level, for example in the frame of responses to EU consultations or other important reports that are being collated by MHE.
In 2009, MHE organised training seminars for its National Focal Points. More information on the trainings is available at: http://www.mhe-sme.org/en/publications/reports-from-mhe-seminars-and-other-mhe-events/mhe-national-focal-points-trainings.html
Mental Health Europe work with the European Commission in the field of social inclusion
MHE operating framework is the renewed Lisbon Strategy.
In the preparation phase of the National Strategy Reports on Social Protection and Social Inclusion 2008-2010, MHE members were actively involved and in contact with the respective national authority. The EU member states submitted their National Strategic Reports 2008-2010 in September 2008. MHE and its members evaluated the National Strategic Reports regarding the taking into consideration of the mental health issue, the social inclusion of people with mental health problems and the implementation of related policies. Most countries mention health policies and social inclusion and protection in general, but only indicate very few direct links to mental health and often do not give any direct reference at all to the mental health aspect. Mental health is being effected in an indirect way by the improvement of mental health and well-being through overall socio-political measures.
Furthermore, MHE closely monitored the European Commission strategies on active inclusion and on social services of general interest, as a means to promote social inclusion of people with mental health problems, who are amongst those furthest from the labour market.
The European Commission issued its consultation about the active inclusion of people furthest from the labour market in October 2007, which later resulted in a Commission Recommendation that was published on 3 October 2008. The aim of of the Active Inclusion Strategy is to promote the integration of the most disadvantaged people through a comprehensive active inclusion strategy, entailing the provision of an adequate level of income support with a link to the labour market and a better access to services.
MHE submitted its contribution to this consultation based on input from MHE members. In this contribution, MHE highlighted the fact 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. Following a presentation of the general employment situation of people with mental health problems in the Member States, MHE presented its recommendations for developing common active inclusion principles and for an active inclusion strategy.
In view of the preparation of the renewed European Social Agenda, the European Commission launched in 2007 and 2008 a wide stakeholder consultation based on several key issues. In this context, MHE consulted its membership and responded to the consultation on Europe's social reality (Spring 2007) and delivered its vision of what should be the EU's social policy priorities in the coming years. MHE's contribution delivered a strong and holistic vision of a social Europe with concrete proposals on how to achieve a society that is characterised by good mental health and well-being and that respects to the needs of people with mental health problems, thereby enhancing inclusion, equality and solidarity in society.
The European Commission also undertook a consultation on the future EU budget (September 2007), and on finding ways how the budget can be shaped to serve EU policies and to meet the challenges of the decades ahead. In its contribution , MHE made a strong plea towards the European Commission to restore social equality and strengthen the frame for opportunities that enable individuals to improve their quality of life. Measures of EU budgetary reform should be targeted not towards the profit of a few but towards the prosperity of all. Unity, diversity and social inclusion and social cohesion can only exist under the condition that everyday life is satisfactory for all, with opportunities and equality for all.
European Year 2010 for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion
The Year 2010 has been designated as European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion. The EY 2010 aims to challenge stereotypes and collective perceptions of poverty to ensure everyone can play a full and active role in society through awareness-raising actions and events on the European and national levels.
Research has shown clear links between mental health and poverty. People experiencing poverty are particularly vulnerable towards getting mental health problems, since due to financial hardship or not having a job frequently, their social contacts are suffering and uncertainty about the future dominate their daily lives. Mental Health Europe actively advocates for the human rights and social inclusion for people with mental health problems in the frame of the activities for the EY 2010 and will organize a conference dedicated to this topic in autumn 2010. Furthermore, MHE has launched a questionnaire through its National Focal Points of which the results will serve as background information for a comprehensive report about mental health and poverty.
