EASPD

While overall levels of health have improved over the last 20 years, the gap between the most advantaged and the most disadvantaged has increased in many countries. Therefore, the tackling of health inequalities as a policy priority is of major importance.

The topic is particularly important for EASPD, as our members provide services to one of the most vulnerable groups in society: persons with a disability. Although in general these people grow older than 50 years ago, they still tend to die at a younger age than the general population, and have a higher prevalence of most types of health problems. (Graz Declaration, 2006)

Also staff in the social sector, represented by EASPD, tend to have more (mental) health problems due to very specific stress factors.

Therefore, an Interest Group on Mental Health was established in 2006 within EASPD. For further questions, please contact goedele.avau(at)easpd.eu

EU Open Health Forum 2010

Under the overall theme of 'Together for Health - a Strategy fro the EU 2020', a conference was organised by DG Health and Consumers (European Commission) on 29-30 June 2010.

This conference aimed to contribute and increase the profile of health in all policies through discussion between EU policy makers and stakeholders on pressing public health issues and their impacts on the Community.

All conference material can be found on: http://ec.europa.eu/health/interest_groups/eu_health_forum/open_forum/2010/index_en.htm#fullwidth

Consultation Paper: EU Action on reducing health inequalities

The size and scale of the differences in health of people living in different parts of the EU and between socially advantaged and disadvantaged EU citizens represents a challenge to the EU's commitment to solidarity and equality of opportunity. In this context, the European Commission announced a communication on reducing health inequalities in the EU in its work in its work programme of 2009 as an initiative on 'Solidarity in Health'.

A request for input to the development of this Commission Communication was sent out in February 2009 to key stakeholders involved in European work with the European Commission in the areas of social policy and employment policy.

EASPD reacted on this request with a position paper.

You can read the full consultation paper of the European Commission here.

You can read EASPD's input here.

White Paper: Together for Health - A Strategic Approach for the EU 2008-2013

Health is central in people's lives and needs to be supported by effective policies and actions in the Member States, at EC level and at global level. Therefore, a new Health Strategy was launched by the European Commission in October 2007.

You can read the full paper here.

Green Paper: Improving the mental health of the population - Towards a strategy on mental health for the European Union 

Although many initiatives have already been taken, the mental health of the EU population can be considerably improved:

• Mental ill health affects every fourth citizen and can lead to suicide, a cause of too many deaths;

• Mental ill health causes significant losses and burdens to the economic, social, educational as well as criminal and justice systems;

• Stigmatisation, discrimination and non-respect for the human rights and the dignity of mentally ill and disabled people still exist, challenging core European values.

Therefore, the January 2005 WHO European Ministrial Conference on Mental Health established a framework for comprehensive action and created strong political commitment for mental health. It invited the European Commission, a collaborating partner of the conference, to contribute to implementing this

framework for action, in line with its competencies and the Council’s expectations and in partnership with the WHO.

This Green paper was a first answer to this invitation and proposed to establish an EU strategy on mental health.

You can read the full paper here.