WHAT’S THE EU’S STAND?

A significant and increasing number of young people across Europe are expressing their concern about mental health issues such as high stress, anxiety, depression and other mental illnesses amongst their peers. 

 

The World Health Organisation estimates that about 25% of the world’s population experiences a mental health problem at some point in their life.

 

The COVID19 pandemic is also having a devastating impact due to the months of loneliness and isolation during lockdowns, concerns about school, college or university work and breakdown in routine. It’s now, more important than ever, to express the need for better youth mental health provision.

 

A research published by Eurofound (2021), Living, working and COVID-19 (Update April 2021): Mental health and trust decline across EU as pandemic enters another year, shows 64% of young Europeans are at risk of depression, up from 15% before the Covid crisis. An estimate reveals that for 18-to 29-year-olds the situation is even worse. Women aged 18 to 24 registered the lowest levels of mental wellbeing.Due to the COVID

 

Policies and services addressing mental health are the responsibility of individual EU countries. However, the need to include mental health among the priorities of the public health agenda has resulted in renewed focus at EU level. The European Commission launched the EU compass for action on mental health and well-being (2015-2018). The tool highlights issues including depression and resilience; community-based mental health; suicide prevention; and mental health at work and in schools. 

 

Mental health is also a priority in projects financed by the EU. iFightDepression, developed with support from the EU Health programme, is an online tool to help people with mild to moderate depression self-manage their symptoms. PReDicT, under the EU’s programme for research and innovation, Horizon 2020, aimed to improve treatment of depression with a patient-centric technology.

 

Emotional support helpline 

116 123, has been reserved for emotional support helplines. The line gives moral support to adults who are suffering from loneliness, are in a state of psychological crisis or thinking about committing suicide.