Re: EU takes first step in tackling mental health problems

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

Al



Is that sarcasm i detect? :)
.

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