Spotlight on mental health: projects building stronger mental health support systems across Europe

Mental health is an essential part of our overall health and is just as important as physical wellbeing. However, many people across Europe continue to face challenges in accessing timely and appropriate mental health support. In 2023, while almost one in two Europeans (46%) stated they had an emotional or psychosocial problem in the previous 12 months, 25% of EU citizens reported that they or a family member encountered issues accessing mental health services. 

In 2023, the European Commission adopted its comprehensive approach to mental health, setting out a prevention-oriented and cross-sectoral framework to address mental health challenges across the EU. Building on a ‘Mental Health in All Policies’ approach, it recognises that mental health is influenced by a wide range of factors and policy areas, and places particular emphasis on prevention and early intervention, children and young people and other vulnerable groups, improving access to care, tackling stigma and strengthening mental health systems and capacity. It is supported by 20 flagship initiatives and around €1.2 billion in funding across EU funding programmes.. 

A number of projects, managed by the European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA), are contributing to a more comprehensive approach to mental health across Europe. 

Youth-centred approaches to prevention and early intervention 

Young people face a range of mental health challenges, but existing support is not always sufficiently accessible or adapted to their needs. The Horizon Europe project YOUTHreach aims to improve access to youth-friendly mental health prevention and early intervention by developing and evaluating complementary approaches together with young people. 

The project is developing three interventions: 

YEAH: a free, accessible walk-in centre providing a trusted and anonymous youth-friendly setting; 

SELFIE: a smartphone-based self-help app supporting young people in managing their own mental health;