Facts and figures about mental health in the EU do not paint a rosy picture but rather raise a call for action. The EESC advocates stronger measures to promote mental health at national and EU levels. It has also called for binding legislation to prevent psychosocial risks in the workplace. With the Civil Society Prize on mental health, it pays tribute to the continuing efforts of civil society to improve the wellbeing of Europeans.

1. The EESC decided to dedicate its flagship Civil Society Prize to mental health after reports that, in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, mental health disorders such as anxiety and depression spiked across Europe. According to the OECD, the share of young people with symptoms of anxiety more than doubled in several European countries. The pandemic also lowered the age of onset for eating disorders, particularly among adolescents. Even before COVID-19 hit, mental health problems affected at least 84 million people – around one in six – across the EU.
2. Around 4% of annual deaths in the EU are attributed to mental health and behavioural disorders. Poor mental health also has a huge economic impact, as the direct and indirect costs account for roughly 4% of GDP. More than a third of these costs stem from lower employment rates and falling productivity at work.
3. In 2020, 44.6% of the employed population aged 15-64 across the EU reported facing risk factors for their mental wellbeing at work according to Eurostat. Work overload or time pressure was the most commonly mentioned risk factor for mental wellbeing at work, reported by nearly a fifth of employed people in the EU.
4. Mental wellbeing has risen to the top of the political agenda in the EU. As a result, the Commission adopted a comprehensive approach to mental health in June 2023. Supported by EUR 1.23 billion in EU funding, this new approach aims to promote mental health in all EU policies, with a focus on three guiding principles: adequate and effective prevention; access to high-quality and affordable mental healthcare and treatment; and reintegration into society after recovery. Mental health is also a political priority for the EESC and is at the core of its work.
5. The EESC received as many as 105 applications from across the EU, covering a wide range of topics – from projects preventing psychosocial risks in the workplace or tackling issues such as substance abuse and cyberaddiction to combatting stigma around mental health and promoting community-led assistance. The EESC hopes that by honouring and showcasing these vital non-state efforts in supporting mental health it can also inspire others to do the same. (sg)