Re: EU takes first step in tackling mental health problems


Tim wrote:
> EU takes first step in tackling mental health problems
>
> Country *Europe *Europe
> Date 19 October 2005
>
> The European Commission has taken the first steps in tackling mental
> illnesses, which affect one in four adults in the bloc.
>
> On Monday (17 October), the Brussels executive adopted a Green Paper on
> a strategy for mental health in the EU.
>
> The commission's move represents the first time that mental health
> policies are to be included in general EU policies.
>
> Mental illness affects over 27 percent of European adults every year,
> and is responsible for the majority of the annual 58,000 deaths by
> suicide, more than the number who die from motor vehicle traffic
> accidents, according to the commission.
>
> "I can think of no other disease that would remain so low profile if
> such a high percentage of the population were struck by it. Mental
> health has been swept under the carpet for too long", EU health
> commissioner Markos Kyprianou said while presenting the paper.
>
> Studies have estimated that by 2020, depression will be the
> highest-ranking cause of disease in the developed world.
>
> In terms of its economic impact, ill mental health costs the EU 3-4
> percent of its GDP through lost productivity and additional burdens on
> sectors such as health, education and justice.
>
> But there are large differences between member states when it comes to
> mental health.
>
> Suicide rates range from 44 per 100,000 people in Lithuania to 3.6 in
> Greece, while the number of involuntary placements in mental health
> institutions is 40 times higher in Finland than in Portugal.
>
> The share of spending on mental health ranges from more than 13 percent
> of the national health budget in Luxembourg to just 2 percent in
> Slovakia, the paper notes.
>
> As part of the process, governments, NGOs, stakeholders and individual
> citizens may now comment on the paper and the role the EU can play in
> tackling mental illness.
>
> The consultation will continue until spring, after which the Commission
> will use the input to draw up a proposal on a EU-wide mental health
> strategy, which is the next step in the process.
>
> Source: EU Observer, 19/10/2005
> Back to List of News Items Back to List of


I wait with baited breath to see the outcome of this consultation.

Al

.

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