Mental Health Awareness Week: What can pan-European collaboration do for mental health?

Mental Health Awareness Week: What can pan-European collaboration do for mental health?

Mental Health Awareness Week #EuropeanMentalHealthWeek is running across Europe from 10-16 May 2021 [https://www.mhe-sme.org/emhw/].

The programme of events has been set up by Mental Health Europe, a network of 73 member organisations across 30 countries, including the British Psychological Society in the UK, EU-wide groups like Clubhouse Europe, charities and NGOs.

This year’s theme is ‘Mental Health Matters’ #MoreThanEver and how “we are all experiencing a different pandemic”, with different kinds of strains on our wellbeing: “The week is a chance for people to talk about all aspects of mental health, share personal stories of how people are coping with difficulties during the coronavirus crisis and highlight the need for action focusing on advice and support.”

What’s happening

Online events include today’s launch event for Mental Health Europe’s Mental Health Advocacy Platform – advocating a comprehensive EU Mental Health Strategy as a means of bringing about sustainable change across Europe; and a series of conversations about mental health and recovery.

“Mental health is in the spotlight as one of the biggest social issues of our time,” says EAPA UK chair Eugene Farrell.

“Awareness is growing alongside levels of understanding among business leaders. But what’s needed now is more understanding about the best forms of support for different people and issues, and how to provide access to them. In other words, there’s a great deal of diversity involved, how do we know what really works?

“It’s more important than ever that we come together and collaborate as a body of committed professionals, with so much experience to share, in order to broaden our perspective and to ensure best practice and new insights are being shared.”