Empowering Minds Podcast: Migrants, Refugees & Mental Health | Episode 8

“…there is nobody. I am alone in this country. I don’t have any relatives. I don’t have any friends. I am alone. During the night I maybe sleep three to four hours. I am in bed, but my mind is not in bed. My mind is in Afghanistan.” – France: Afghan Evacuees Need Mental Health Support (research by Human Rights Watch).

On the 10th of October 2022, to mark the 30th World Mental Health Day, an event titled  ‘World Mental Health Day: Migrants, Refugees and Mental Health’ was held at the European Parliament.  Organised by Mental Health Europe (MHE) and co-hosted by MEP Estrella Durá Ferrandis (S&D) and MEP Tilly Metz (Greens/EFA), the event brought together key actors to discuss the importance of good mental health and how best to provide adequate mental health support in the context of increased migration across Europe.  

For this edition of the Podcast, Jr. Communication Officer Margi Marchetti summarised the main points of discussions raised by the experts, such as the need for stronger, more inclusive and accessible mental health promotion, prevention, and services for refugees and migrants in Europe and beyond.

The following spoke at the event on 10 October:

• Stella Kyriakides, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety
• MEP Tilly Metz (Greens/EFA, Luxembourg) – EP Coalition for Mental Health and Wellbeing
• MEP Estrella Durà Ferrandis (S&D, Spain) – EP Coalition for Mental Health and Wellbeing
• Ronan Mangan, Red Cross EU Office – Head of Unit for Social Inclusion
• Laetitia Van der Vennet, Platform for International Cooperation on Undocumented Migrants (PICUM) – Advocacy Officer
• Frohar Poya, European Network of Migrant Women – Project Officer
• Jonas Bull, Human Rights Watch – Assistant Researcher, Disability Rights Division
• Verena Knaus, UNICEF – Global Lead on Migation and Displacement