The acting Minister of Health has spoken at the closing of the High-Level Meeting on Mental Health held in Avilés (Asturias) as part of the agenda of the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

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Approval of a common strategic framework on mental health

On 30 November, Spain will present the approval of a common strategic framework on Mental Health to the European Union’s Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (EPSCO), as a result of the work being carried out during the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the EU in this area.

This was announced this Tuesday by the acting Minister of Health, José Miñones, during his participation in the closing session of the High-Level Meeting on Mental Health held today in Avilés (Asturias).

As José Miñones said, the Member States have “unanimously” backed the EU Council conclusions that will ensure a homogenous framework for European action on mental health; a “broad and useful” agreement that will allow any country considering a review of its mental health strategy to do so “with guarantees and with the same strategic vision”.

The acting Minister of Health highlighted the efforts that the Spanish Government has been making since the start of the Presidency of the Council of the EU to establish synergies between countries so that mental health and the vectors of prevention, detection and treatment are common throughout Europe.

In this regard, he also highlighted the Communication presented by the Commission at the beginning of this semester, which includes funding opportunities worth 1,230 million euros in the field of Mental Health, the holding of various High Level Meetings and the request made to the European Economic and Social Committee to issue an opinion recognising the importance of prioritising Mental Health in Europe.

In short, said Miñones, during this period Spain has sought to “make visible and make progress” on one of the greatest challenges facing European healthcare, “leading a strategic reflection” on the matter and making mental health a main point on the EU healthcare agenda.

In this context, he pointed out the high impact that the crisis caused by COVID-19, the increase in the cost of living and the war caused by Russia’s aggression against Ukraine have had on the mental health of the European population; “a true silent epidemic” that has particularly affected the most vulnerable groups.