We need a separate European Parliament Own-Initiative Report on Mental Health
Joint letter by 25 organisations to MEP Adam Jarubas, Chair of the EP Committee on Public Health (SANT).
Eurochild joins 24 organisations asking the EU to continue building on the progress already made in advancing a comprehensive mental health agenda. The organisations are concerned by discussions suggesting that the European Parliament’s planned own-initiative report on an EU Mental Health Strategy could be merged with an upcoming report on neurological or brain health.
We respectfully call on the Parliament to maintain a separate report to ensure mental health remains a visible priority in the EU policy agenda.
At a time when needs are increasing, and mental health systems remain under-resourced, strong political leadership from the European Parliament is essential. Reducing the visibility of mental health risks slowing the progress achieved in recent years.
While links between neurological and mental health conditions are recognised, merging the initiatives could narrow the debate and shift the focus primarily towards biomedical aspects, at the expense of prevention, psychosocial support and social inclusion. Maintaining separate reports would allow Parliament to strengthen both agendas while preserving the comprehensive approach to mental health it has championed.
