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 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 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 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.
The main thematic emphasis will be given to the upcoming review of the renewed Lisbon Strategy and especially the preparation of the National Strategy Reports on Social Protection and Social Inclusion 2008-2011 .
As part of this process, MHE will closely monitor and follow-up 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.
MHE will be actively involved in the preparation of the renewed Social Agenda , as well as to other general reflections on the EU and its future missions.
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 is respectful 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 life chances, i.e. 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, that there are life chances for all and equality for all.
Another important European Commission consultation addressed the active inclusion of people furthest from the labour market (October 2007). The aim of this communication was to launch a debate on ways 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.