The European Parliament regularly receives enquiries from citizens about what the EU is doing to promote mental health.
Mental health is a significant economic, social and public health concern throughout the European Union (EU). The COVID-19 pandemic and the cost of living crisis have affected everyone’s mental well-being, leading to increased stress, anxiety and depression. Vulnerable populations were particularly impacted.
Under the EU treaties, health is primarily a responsibility of member countries. The European Union has a coordinating and supporting role, in particular as regards prevention, education and cross-border aspects.
Mental health in the EU
Events like the COVID-19 pandemic, Russia’s aggression in Ukraine, the climate crisis, and other societal and economic hardships have worsened mental health in Europe. Before the pandemic, one in six EU residents experienced mental health issues. In 2023, 46% of respondents in a Eurobarometer survey indicated they had experienced mental health issues (such as feeling depressed or anxious) in the past twelve months.
Policies and services addressing mental health are the responsibility of individual EU countries. However, the EU is taking action on mental health. The EU introduced initiatives and allocated €1.23 billion in funding to be spent between 2021 and 2027 to finance activities that directly or indirectly promote mental health. The most of the funding, €765 million, goes to research and innovation projects related to mental health.
The European Union’s action on mental health focuses on three guiding principles:
- Prevention: Ensuring adequate and effective prevention measures.
- Treatment: Facilitating access to high-quality and affordable mental healthcare.
- Reintegration: Supporting individuals to reintegrate into society after recovery.
European Parliament position
The European Parliament has consistently supported improved mental health and its integration into EU policymaking.
In a December 2023 resolution, Parliament highlighted that everyone can face different mental stressors and risk factors at different phases of their lives. The European Parliament recognised the importance of understanding the various determinants of mental health. It underlined that it is crucial to integrate mental health across policies in order to prevent and mitigate the impact on individuals and communities.
In a July 2022 resolution, Parliament highlighted that 64% of young people aged 18 to 34 were at risk of depression in 2021 due to employment challenges, limited educational prospects, loneliness and social isolation.
In a September 2022 resolution, Parliament urged the Commission to establish a European Year of Mental Health and to create a comprehensive plan for safeguarding mental well-being in education.
In an earlier resolution of July 2020, the European Parliament addressed mental health as part of the EU’s post-pandemic public health strategy. Parliament emphasised the need for an EU action plan that considers both biomedical and psychosocial factors related to mental health.
Further information
- Mental health in the EU, Briefing, European Parliamentary Research Service, 2023
- Minimum health and safety requirements for the protection of mental health in the workplace, Study, Policy Department for Economic, Scientific and Quality of Life Policies, European Parliament, 2023
- How are we coping with the pandemic? Mental health and resilience amid the Covid-19 pandemic in the EU, Study, European Parliamentary Research Service, 2022
- Mental health and the pandemic, Briefing, European Parliament Research Service, 2021
- Psychosocial risks and mental health at work, European Agency for Safety and Health at Work
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