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MENTAL HEALTH EUROPE NEWSLETTER  |  ISSUE N° 7   |   JULY - AUGUST 2022  
World Mental Health Day 2022 | 10 October 2022 | European Parliament, Brussels - Hybrid event

Join us on World Mental Health Day 2022. The event will take place on 10 October at the European Parliament in Brussels. MEP Tilly Metz and MEP Estrella Durá Ferrandis will be co-hosting the event, which will be an opportunity to discuss migrants, refugees and mental health. Recent geopolitical events have generated growing concerns about the mental health of those impacted by the war and this humanitarian crisis has prompted multi-dimensional examples of solidarity.  The hybrid event will seek to explore and review the European focus to foster better mental health for migrants and refugees in the short and long term, as well as existing gaps that must be addressed.

Find out more
 
  More from Mental Health Europe
MHE applauds MEP Maria Walsh for her call to make 2023 the European Year of Mental Health
   
MHE fully supports MEP Maria Walsh's (Co-Chair, MHE’s Coalition for Mental Health and Wellbeing) call to urgently tackle mental health by cross-sectional and integrated policies, as part of a comprehensive EU Mental Health Strategy and a European Year dedicated to Mental Health in 2023. Against the backdrop of deteriorating mental health across Europe, such strong support brings hope that all stakeholders will now start working together to ensure good mental health for all.

Sign the petition by 8 September
 
MHE endorses joint statement by the EU Health Policy Platform thematic network 

Coordinated actions to address determinants of mental health are urgently needed, which is why MHE has endorsed this joint statement. There is emerging evidence of the association between environmental degradation and pollution with experiences of mental ill-health, including depression, anxiety and sadness. A growing body of evidence shows that nature is vital for good mental and physical health at all ages. 

Read the full statement
MHE's scorecard on the French EU Presidency (January-June 2022)

The French Presidency focused its priorities on five main areas: ecological transition, digital issues, social issues, defence and economic issues. Its priorities and programme were developed in cooperation with all EU institutions as well as the previous Slovenian Presidency and the upcoming Swedish Presidency. MHE has rated the French Presidency's performance and commitment to mental health over the last six months. 
 
EU HPP Webinar: COVID-19 & mental health - Taking forward the lessons learned 

In the framework of the Covid-19 Mental Health Support Stakeholders Network on the DG SANTE Health Policy Platform (HPP), MHE is organising this Webinar on 21 September with the support of the European Commission. The webinar aims to share knowledge on concrete actions to address the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, in relation to mental health. Submit your input on whether and how specific lessons have been taken forward, the hurdles, and what is needed to make progress.

Learn more
Mental Health Advocacy Platform's Statement on the EU "Healthier Together" NCD Initiative

Mental Health Advocacy Platform’s Statement on the EU ‘Healthier Together’ Non-Communicable Diseases Initiative' is a commendable step in the right direction but a more ambitious approach to mental health is needed. The guidance document sets out ambitious priorities and examples of inspiring practices, alongside an overview of available financial tools to translate them into concrete actions.

Read the statement
 
Rural Mental Health Project closed

The Rural Mental Health Project has come to an end but its impact will last. The legacy of this project has no expiration date since all the materials developed in the 36 months of the project's duration are publicly available on the Project website (in French, Polish and English). Get updated about the project and send your feedback.

Read more
  
 Updates from institutions and partners

European Commission launched toolkit to implement the EU NCDs 'Healthier Together' Initiative

The ‘Healthier Together’ toolkit identifies policies and practices to tackle non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and maps the EU’s legal and financial tools that can support its implementation. For its implementation, €156 million was earmarked under the EU4Health 2022 work programme.  

Read the Guidance document

Council of the European Union adopted conclusion on EU Strategy on the Rights of the Child

In the conclusions, the Council calls on member states to improve the protection of children in emergency situations, including by setting up emergency reception procedures working towards ensuring protective accommodation, adapted to the needs of the child, guaranteeing his or her physical and mental health safety, as well as access to basic services and guaranteeing early identification of vulnerabilities.

Read the outcomes of the proceedings
New rights to improve work-life balance in the EU entered into application on 4 August

Europe’s Member States will have to apply EU-wide rules to improve work-life balance for parents and carers - a key milestone towards building a Union of Equality.  These rules set out minimum standards for paternity, parental and carers' leave and establish additional rights, such as the right to request flexible working arrangements. Parents and carers will now have more guaranteed leave with fair compensation. 

Read more
Report on first WHO Europe meeting of the pan-European Mental Health Coalition (4-5 May 2022)

This WHO meeting was held to develop the strategic basis and content of each working package. Goals for the working packages included galvanizing reform of mental health systems in response to rising COVID-19 awareness, recognising everyone's mental health is vulnerable. Lessons learnt is expected to refine the process of engagement and maximizing the impact of the Coalition's work on mental health systems across Europe. 

Read the report
Mental Health Foundation: Climate change and mental health - Report from a COP-26 public participation event

The Mental Health Foundation (MHF) has a longstanding interest in reducing mental health inequalities and addressing the social determinants of mental health problems. This paper reports on the findings of the community participation event and provides evidence on the mental health impacts of climate change drawn from the existing scientific literature. It includes a summary of the remaining knowledge gaps, an outline of the community participation event and its findings.

Read the report
IIMHL Regional Hub Network Meetings 'Valuing inclusion, resilience & growth': 26-27 October

On 26-27 October, the International Initiative for Mental Health Leadership (IIMHL) is organizing three Regional Hub meetings in Dublin (Ireland), Washington DC (USA) and Christchurch (New Zealand). Leaders in the mental health, substance use and disability fields are warmly invited to join, make connections and share knowledge and best practices. Attendance is free (travel and accommodation at personal cost).
More information at www.iimhl.com or email vivian.hemmelder@mhe-sme.org.

Learn more and register
European Commission called to include proposal for a European Civil Society Strategy

Civil society organisations (citizens’ associations, NGOs and public benefits foundations, human rights defenders) are instrumental to make effective the values enshrined in Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union. Their actions strives to leave no one behind and is crucial in the area of social care, education, health, anti-discrimination and much more.

Read letter to President von der Leyen
Semaine de la santé mentale le 10 octobre en Wallonie: Ouverture des inscriptions à la journée d'étude 

La journée d'étude sera entièrement consacrée à la santé mentale des jeunes. Au programme: interventions en plénière, tables-rondes, présentation de projets développés sur le terrain. Avec Yves Collard, Marion Robin, Sophie Maes, Unicef, SDJ Namur-Luxembourg, ...
Les inscriptions sont ouvertes ! 

S’inscrire à la journée ici
 In case you missed it   
Health Europa
Urgent action needed to support young people’s mental health. >>

BBC News
Did we all believe a myth about depression?   >>

Mad in America
Loss, Grief, and Betrayal: Psychiatric Survivors Reflect on the Impact of New Serotonin Study  >>

The British Psychological Society (BPS)
The medical model has presided over four decades of flat-lining outcomes   >>

Health Europa
Capturing mental illness indicators with Artificial Intelligence  >>

The Pharmaceutical Journal

Deep disappointment’ as government rules out proposals for a national prescribed drug dependence helpline   >>

BBC News

Nearly half a million more adults on antidepressants in England  >>

Forbes 

Is Anger And Anxiety In The Workplace The New Normal?  >>

BBC News
Camhs deaths expose child mental health unit pressures >>

Refinery 20
Why Are So Many Women Suddenly Being Diagnosed With ADHD?   >>

Mad in America
Nobody Knows What “Serious Mental Illness” Means    >>

Psychology Today
Remembering a Quarter of a Million "Mental Patients" Murdered in the 1930s and 1940s    >>

HBO
‘Mental Health Care: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver’. Talk uncovers the cracks in the US health care system and some points are relevant to Europe.   >>

Mad in America
Psychiatry, Fraud, and the Case for a Class-Action Lawsuit   >>

Brownstone Institute
How We Have Been Misled About Antidepressants (by Joanna Moncrieff)   >>

The British Psychological Society (BPS)
BPS launches new campaign to make social class a protected characteristic   >>

iNews
One in three teenagers given antidepressants as lack of mental health services puts pressure on GPs to help   >>

The Pharmaceutical Journal
‘Deep disappointment’ as government rules out proposals for a national prescribed drug dependence helpline   >>

The Lancet
An age of uncertainty: mental health in young people >>

Nature
Tackling the mental-health crisis in young people >>
 Calls, events & opportunities  

31 August (Deadline)
European Commission call for proposals: 2022 Thematic Networks

1 September (Deadline)
Alzheimer Europe's 'Anti-Stigma Award' call for submissions

5 September (Deadline)
World Federation for Mental Health Volunteers Drive 

8 September
4MH Community Suicide Awareness Web Conference

 
 
 
 

26-29 September
European Health Forum Gastein - A moonshot for a true European Union (Hybrid Event) 

27 September
NetworkNature Annual Event: Upscaling Nature-based solutions in policy and practice

28 September
Consultation on Ukraine emergency issues: ‘Providing mental health support and care to people affected by the War: general topics and specific cases’

28 September
WHO ‘Mental Health at Work' Global Guidelines

4-5 October 
4th Digital Health Society Summit (virtual)

7 October (Deadline)
New EU4Health call for tenders to support expert groups in the field of health

10 October
MHE’s World Mental Health Day Event, European Parliament, Brussels (Hybrid)

26-27 October
IIMHL Regional Hub Network Meetings or Virtual Viewing - 'Leadership Exchange - Valuing Inclusion, Resilience, and Growth’

9-12 November 
15th European Public Health Conference (Berlin, Germany)

 On Social Media 
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— Mental Health Europe
August 2022

Twitter
— Mental Health Europe  
12 August 2022

 
 Wellbeing Tip of the Month 
Our #MentalHealth tip

Spending time near water gives a powerful mental health boost 
New research shows that spending time in “blue spaces” (by the coast, lakes, rivers, even fountains in the park) is restorative and great for our mental health. This summer, try to spend some time near a lake, a river or a fountain in the park. 
More on www.mhe-sme.org
 
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