By Anne-France White - 5th December 2006
Every fourth European has mental health problems at least once in his life, according to a new EU report.
The European commission’s paper, based on an EU-wide consultation and a Eurobarometer survey, argues that the EU should put together a strategy to promote mental health and fight discrimination.
Some 13 per cent of respondents say they have sought mental help over the last year.
In addition, around a fifth of respondents with problems (21 per cent) say they have missed work days in the last four weeks as a result of emotional problems such as depression or anxiety.
“The importance of mental health needs to be better recognised,” argued EU health commissioner Markos Kyprianou.
“Good mental health of the population is a precondition for the EU’s success in the knowledge economy,” he added.
The commission says mental health problems “are now one of the major public health challenges in the EU”.
According to the report, depression and other mental problems “cause an estimated loss of three to four per cent of the EU’s gross domestic product”.
The survey suggests that women, the elderly, the retired and people working at home are most prone to depression and poor mental health.
Among the countries, Italy, Luxembourg and the Baltic states lead the ranks of the depressed.
A third of Romanians say they have sought professional help for mental problems, followed by 22 per cent of Luxembourgish and 18 per cent of Slovaks.
In contrast, just 9 per cent of people in Malta have sought help.
In addition, 11 per cent of Lithuanians say they have used medication for emotional problems, followed by 10 per cent of Estonians, Luxembourgish, Austrians and Portuguese.
The commission says stigma on mental health is “not overwhelming but significant”.
The survey suggests that 37 per cent of respondents think that “people with psychological problems constitute a danger to others”.
The figure varies strongly between countries, however.
Most people in the Baltics, interestingly, say there is a threat from people with mental problems – with 68 per cent of Lithuanians and Latvians and 60 per cent of Estonians.
In contrast, the figure is much lower in Ireland (25 per cent), the Netherlands (25 per cent) and Hungary (27 per cent).
“The situation of those with mental health problems is an indicator of the level of inclusiveness of EU societies,” Kyprianou argued as the report was released.
The commission says respondents to its consultation broadly support the development of an EU mental health strategy.
“The respondents advised that the emphasis be put on mental health promotion and prevention, as well as on enhancing the situation of those with mental health problems through reducing stigma and discrimination,” the commission said in a statement.
