NGOs, academics and MEPs: Use future EU funding to promote human rights compliant mental health services

Mental health experts have today (11 July 2018) called on policy makers in the institutions of the European Union (EU) to use the next round of EU funding to promote further reforms to mental health services.

The call came at a meeting in the European Parliament hosted by Tomáš Zdechovský MEP (EPP, Czech Republic) and convened by Mental Health Europe (MHE), the largest independent network organisation representing mental health users, professionals and services in Europe.

The event brought together MEPs, academics, service users and persons with lived experiences, service providers and representatives from the World Health Organisation and European Commission to discuss EU funding and mental health services.

With the European Parliament and the Council of the EU debating proposed regulations for the 2021-2027 funding period, the event comes at a crucial moment as the EU is deciding on its priorities for the next decade.

Speakers at the event called for the next round of funding to be used to better promote human rights compliant and person-centred mental health services based in the community.

The event drew on the key finding of MHE’s Mapping and Understanding Exclusion in Europe report, which provides unique data on mental health systems in 35+ European countries. It found many mental health services are not compliant with human rights, and whilst reform is happening progress is slow.

One of the researchers behind the report, Gabor Petri from the University of Kent Tizard Centre, said:

“Our research shows that the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) has improved policies in principle, but we need EU funding to make systemic changes a reality. Some of the current deinstitutionalisation processes in Europe might not be taking place if it wasn’t for EU funding.”

EU money in previous funding periods has been used to promote systemic changes, including deinstitutionalisation of mental health services in some European countries, but without rigorous, independent monitoring of progress.

In some countries – such as France, Belgium, Ireland, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Germany – mental health systems still feature coercion, forced medication, loss of rights and reliance on involuntary hospitalisation. Across the EU MHE estimates that at least half a million people live under full guardianship, isolated from society and deprived of the right to make choices about everyday life.

Michelle Funk from the World Health Organisation, who spoke at the event, said:

“Changing the services we currently have is not enough. We must significantly transform what services are being delivered and how they are being delivered. There are many services out there compliant with the CRPD, but in many countries they remain in the margins and people are not aware of them.”

She was amongst many other mental health experts at the event who backed calls for EU institutions to build on previous good work and to use the next round of funding to promote further vital reforms.

Maria Nyman, Director of MHE, said:

“The takeaway message from the speakers at today’s event was the need to support community based-services which promote human rights. Our report shows some countries have a long way to go to achieve this, but we believe real progress could be made if the proposed EU funding regulations have the right focus. We will be working with EU institutions to ensure adequate regulations are adopted.”

Tomáš Zdechovský MEP, who hosted the event, said:

“What we need is more action. We talk about it a lot, now we need to act. There is a need to increase the budget in order to have the affordable and accessible community-based mental health services we know we need.”

At the event MHE restated its commitment to continue collaboration with EU institutions to ensure that the 2021-2027 EU funding regulations adequately invest in community-based mental health services.

ENDS

For more information please contact Robin Murphy on robin.murphy@mentalhealtheurope.org.

Notes for Editors

• • For more information on MHE visit: https://www.mentalhealtheurope.org/
  • To download a copy of Mapping Exclusion visit: https://www.mentalhealtheurope.org/mapping-exclusion/
  • For more information on the MFF visit: http://ec.europa.eu/budget/mff/index_en.cfm