Research into mental health disorders

Sadly, suicide remains a significant cause of premature death in Europe, with over 50 000 deaths a year in the EU according to Eurostat. Nine of the ten countries with the highest rates of suicide in the world are in the European Region.

Many Europeans are suffering on a daily basis as is evidenced by the results of a Eurobarometer survey. The survey, which questioned Europeans on how they had been feeling either all or most of the time for the previous four weeks, found that 20 % reported feeling 'tired', 15 % feeling 'particularly tense', 13% feeling 'worn out' and less than one in ten had felt either 'so down in the dumps that nothing could cheer them up' or 'downhearted and depressed'.

The state of our mental health naturally has an impact on every facet of our lives, and also on our society and economy. There is no doubt that mental ill health causes significant losses and burdens to our economic, social, educational as well as criminal and justice systems.

Mental health awareness and the destigmatisation of mental illness are key to ensuring that people recognise mental disorders in themselves and others, and can freely seek the help they need. Initiatives such as the Joint Action on Mental Health and Well-being focus on this work, promoting mental health at the workplace and schools, developing actions against depression and suicide and developing mental health care for people with severe mental disorders.