Commissioner Kyprianou's speech on the launch of the European Commission's Green Paper (consultation document) on Mental Health is attached below

Best wishes
David McDaid
LSE Health and Social Care

Reference: SPEECH/05/637 Date: 24/10/2005 
Markos Kyprianou

Member of the European Commission responsible for Health and Consumer Protection

Towards a strategy on mental health for the European Union

Launch of Green Paper on Mental Health
Luxembourg, 24 October 2005
Ministers, Members of Parliament, Regional Director, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I welcome you all to this conference, marking the launch of the Commission's Green paper: "Promoting the mental health of the population. Towards a strategy on mental health for the European Union".
Ten months ago, many of us met in Helsinki for the WHO European Ministerial Conference on Mental Health, at which an Action Plan on Mental Health for the WHO European Region was endorsed.
Events such as the one in Helsinki, and indeed this one here today, are important focal points of the work and the interests that we share. 
And in spite of the effort which they require (or perhaps because of them), they tend to be positive and pleasurable experiences, not least through the social interaction of meeting and exchanging ideas with like-minded colleagues. 
But, as our subject matter illustrates all too clearly, life is not just about positive, pleasurable experiences. All of us have to live with varying degrees of pressure, stress, disappointment and through times of bereavement. Such experiences are part and parcel of normal life. 
Most of us, thankfully, find ways to cope with the trials and tribulations of life. But a significant proportion of us find it hard to cope with the difficult times. 
WHO estimations suggest that one in every four Europeans suffers a mental health problem at least once during his or her lifetime. New research by the European Brain Council argues that the figure could be substantially higher.
Mental health problems and mental ill health - from mental strain to clinical disorders - represent one of the major public health challenges facing not only Europe but the whole world. They have manifold and severe implications:
* a loss of quality of life for citizens, for those affected and also their families and friends;
* an economic cost adding up to 3-4 % of the EU's GDP, from increased public expenditure, work absenteeism, early retirement;
* social and ethical challenges, caused by social exclusion and also cases and practices in treatment and care, which threaten or neglect the rights and the dignity of mentally ill people or those suffering from disability.
Most of us here today will know at least one person, probably more, with a mental health problem. And many of us will find it difficult to deal with this situation, because it's often difficult to know what to say or what to do. 
This highlights the fact that mental health is everybody's business. However, it is a subject that has remained in the shadows for far too long.
Happily, times are now changing. Mental health is gaining more and more prominence on the policy agenda. In many Member States mental health has become one of the priorities of public health policy. For several years now, it has been a priority of Public Health Programmes at Community level. 
In January, the WHO European Ministerial Conference on Mental Health added further momentum to this positive trend, establishing a strategic framework for action and inviting the European Commission to support its implementation.
The launch of the Green paper responds to this challenge. The initiative seeks to support the implementation of the WHO's Declaration and Action Plan, in partnership with the WHO, by proposing the development of a strategy on mental health for the Community.
So how can we improve the mental health of the population?
The WHO Declaration called on the adoption of a comprehensive approach. 
* First, it emphasised the need for effective and accessible treatment and care, and highlighted the need to narrow the huge treatment gap. In the EU, this is an issue which falls under the responsibility of the Member States.
* Second, the declaration highlighted the important roles of promotion and prevention in mental health; of combating stigma and discrimination; of protecting the rights and dignity of people with mental health problems; and the need for good data and inspiring research.
These are areas where the Commission has a mandate to for activity to support the implementation of the WHO's strategy - which is precisely what the Green paper seeks to do.
The Green paper presents good mental health as a resource for the attainment of the EU's strategic policy objectives; proposes the development of an EU-strategy; outlines its possible priorities; and identifies some examples of evidence-based options for action.
It concentrates on four aspects:
* The first aspect is the promotion of mental health within the population as a whole. This seeks to influence positively the determinants of mental health, by promoting healthy lifestyles, designing mental health friendly policies and shaping mental health conducive life environments, for instance at school and the work place.
* The second aspect is preventive action, aiming to reduce the incidence of mental health problems and suicide, giving support to vulnerable groups and addressing the inequalities in the mental conditions of population groups.
* However, despite effective promotion and prevention measures mental ill health can never, of course, be entirely eliminated. The third priority aspect is therefore to promote social inclusion and ensure the fundamental rights of people with mental ill health or disability. This is, in essence, about raising the quality of life of those affected.
* The fourth priority area is the collection of reliable and comparable data on mental health, and the availability of high-quality research as a basis for good policy decisions.
Some might argue that the disparities between EU-Member States are too big and might not easily allow meaningful work at Community level. But while such disparities are indeed great, the Commission's objective is to improve the mental health of the population by opening up a framework for exchange, coordination and cooperation between countries and policy areas, stakeholders and researchers. 
Through the consultation on the Green paper we want to construct a strategy and an action plan, to identify the key priorities and actions for the EU, among those agreed in Helsinki. The strategy and action plan should allow for mutual learning, the comparison of situations and the monitoring of actions. 
We plan to construct this mental health strategy in the light of a broad consultation. We want to promote greater visibility of mental health in the health and non-health policies and amongst stakeholders.
We also want to promote greater sharing of the considerable knowledge that already exists about evidence-based actions. 
The consultation process will also seek to encourage broad ownership and engagement. National governments play a critical role in shaping policies, distributing budgets and setting incentives. But many other actors are highly important: 
* health professionals in primary care, or hospital and other institutional settings: who increasingly realise the relevance of mental health;
* teachers: who can promote the life and social skills of their students;
* work place organisations: promoting the health and well being of staff can support productivity, such as by reducing work absenteeism;
* patient or user organisations and civil society: these play a watchdog function but can contribute expertise towards building solutions;
* researchers: who help the development of evidence-based approaches. 
Over the next seven months will work with these contributors. We will create three groups, and hold three thematic meetings to work out the priorities and action points for an EU-strategy and action plan on mental health. 
Naturally, we will also consider the input form other interested parties, outside of the structured consultation.
At the same time, the Commission will screen its own policies and activities to find out whether their contribution to improving the mental health of the population can be increased and whether available financial instruments could be better used. 
An example of action from the health policy field is the increased priority which mental health has received in the Commission's proposal for a new Health and Consumer Strategy, adopted in April this year.
So what do we want to get out of the consultation process?
Three principal elements:
* a consensus by Member States on key priorities and actions to be taken in health and non-health policies;
* a consensus among stakeholders on what they can do to promote good mental health; to reduce the incidence of mental ill health; and to cope with mentally ill people; and
* a consensus between academic experts and researchers on relevant data and on how to communicate research results better to stakeholders and policy-makers. 
The consultation will be open until 31 May 2006. It will be followed by a thorough analysis of responses. Should the consultation support the Commission's proposal, we will proceed to the preparation of the proposal for a strategy on mental health for the EU.
Finally may I thank you all for your continued interest and support. I hope that this event will give new impetus to the crucial task of improving mental health, leading to tangible benefits for the quality of life of European citizens.