Presentation given by Preben Brandt, Mental Health Europe, at a FEANTSA conference on "The Right to Health is a Human Right: Ensuring Access to Health for People who are Homeless", 2006

1. Mental Health Europe – Santé Mentale Europe
THE EC GREEN PAPER ON
MENTAL HEALTH
From the point of:
Mental Health, addiction and homelessness
Preben Brandt
Psychiatrist, Member of
Mental Health Europe – Santé Mentale Europe

2. THE EC GREEN PAPER ON
MENTAL HEALTH
 Background
 Key messages
 Priorities
 Consultation Process
 MHE Position
 Key issues for analysis
 How to act in practice

3. THE EC GREEN PAPER ON MENTAL HEALTH
BACKGROUND
The Green Paper COM (2005) 484 was launched on 14
October 2005.

4. THE EC GREEN PAPER ON MENTAL HEALTH
KEY MESSAGES
1. Mental health is important for all EU policy objectives
2. Development of a EU strategy on Mental health
3. Evidence-based options are available but not known well enough
4. The mental health of the EU population is not as good as it should be
5. People with Mental health problems experience stigma and discrimination;
their fundamental rights and dignity are not always respected.

5. THE EC GREEN PAPER ON MENTAL HEALTH
PRIORITIES
1. To promote mental health and address mental ill health by
preventive measures
2. To prevent the major mental disorders and support
vulnerable groups
3. To promote the social inclusion of people with mental health
problems and protect their fundamental rights and dignity
4. To improve the mental health information and knowledge
system for the EU

6. THE EC GREEN PAPER ON MENTAL HEALTH
CONSULTATION PROCESS
The consultation bodies took part in three thematic consultation meetings
to discuss the Green Paper:
• 16 – 17 January 2006, Luxembourg: Mental health promotion and
mental disorder prevention
• 16 – 17 March 2006, Vienna: Social inclusion and fundamental rights
• 18 – 19 May 2006, Luxembourg: Information, data and knowledge

7. THE EC GREEN PAPER ON MENTAL HEALTH
CONSULTATION PROCESS
Consultation meetings’ details are available from
http://ec.europa.eu/health/ph_determinants/life_style/events_mental_health_en.
A summary report is due for publication in autumn 2006.This will form the
basis for decisions about the further follow-up to the Green Paper.

8. EC GREEN PAPER CONSULTATION PROCESS
MHE’s POSITION (1)
Welcomes the consultation process as a golden opportunity for influencing the discussion of mental health issues at EU level
•
Invited as many organisations and people as possible to have their say
•
Submitted a final response to the European Commission on May 2006
•

9. EC GREEN PAPER CONSULTATION PROCESS
MHE’s POSITION (2)
MHE believes that:
• The EC Green Paper’s title should be “EU Strategy on Mental Health and Well Being” for all populations
• It is important to ensure a public health approach to positive mental health for all populations in the
MS of the EU
• The EU strategy must ensure that due regard is given to the enormous diversity of the EU population
• It is fundamental to advance the coordination between different policies in the field of Mental health both at
EU and national level

10. EC GREEN PAPER CONSULTATION PROCESS
MHE’s POSITION (3)
MHE believes that:
• The launch of an EU Platform on Mental Health and Well Being is welcome in order to represent a
wide base of interests from many stakeholders - including patients, carers and civil society
organisations
• A Council Recommendation on Mental Health would need to include, as well as all the areas covered
in the Green Paper, a substantial input from those who have experienced mental distress and
provide a forum where they can contribute to the development and implementation of a Mental
health strategy

11. KEY ISSUES FOR ANALYSIS:
The rationale:
– Mental Health and Well Being for all populations
The evidence:
– People with Mental Health problems experience stigma and
discrimination; their fundamental rights and dignity are not
always respected.
The actions:
– Evidence-based options for action to promote mental health
and to prevent mental ill health
– Advance the coordination between different policies in the field
of Mental Health
– Promote cross sectoral cooperation and consensus

12. KEY ISSUES FOR ANALYSIS (I)
ALL POPULATIONS?
People with mental health & social problems:
• Are met with ”Not in my back yard”
• Are falling between two chairs
• Cannot overcome the barriers to access
the health-care system
• Face a specialised system dealing poorly
with complex problems

13. KEY ISSUES FOR ANALYSIS (II)
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS?
People with mental health & social problems:
• Are often not invited to defend their own
rights
• Are at greater risk than others of
experiencing homelessness
• Are at greater risk of suffering from
physical health problems and early death

14. KEY ISSUES FOR ANALYSIS (III)
EVIDENCE-BASED OPTIONS?
People with mental health & social problems:
• Are often treated with little knowledge of
the best treatment principles for this specific
target group
• Need as well treatment as harm-reduction
measures – but must often face a moralistic
approach rather than professionals’ skills

15. KEY ISSUES FOR ANALYSIS (IV)
CROSS-POLICY COORDINATION?
People with mental health & social problems:
• Are understood differently by different actors
and policy-makers
• Are victims of the fact that different systems
are talking different ”languages”

16. KEY ISSUES FOR ANALYSIS (V)
INTERSECTORAL COOPERATION?
People with mental health & social problems:
• Needs specialized care where different sectors
and professionals are working together
• Needs services which are involved in the
surrounding community and is outreach. And
involve relatives, users and volunteers.

17. Good practice – from my point of view:
A health unit for people with mental health & social problems
should include:
• Specialized and multidisciplinary teams
• A separate unit but part of the general mental health
system
• Outreach, outpatient and clinical services
• Co-working with other services
• Manned bridges (accompanying users to other services)
• Knowledge to fit to the special needs in the surrounding
community
• Different services like treatment, harm-reduction, care and
social support

18. For further information:
Mental Health Europe – Santé Mentale Europe
Boulevard Clovis 7, B-1000, Brussels
Tel. +32 2 280 04 68
Fax +32 2 280 16 04
E-mail: info@mhe-sme.org
www.mhe-sme.org
or
Preben Brandt
E-mail: pb@udenfor.dk