Activities of Nicolae ŞTEFĂNUȚĂ related to 2023/2074(INI)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on mental health
Amendments (31)
Amendment 44 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 2 a (new)
Citation 2 a (new)
– having regard to the OECD/European Union (2022), Health at a Glance: Europe 2022: State of Health in the EU Cycle, OECD Publishing, Paris,
Amendment 59 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas mental health is a basic human right and is crucial to personal, community and socio-economic development; whereas the WHO has estimated that over 150 million people in Europe live with a mental health condition2 ; whereas in some of the Member States, people encounter barriers in order to have access to mental health services via the public health care system such as paying additional fees, long waiting time for setting appointments, shortage of mental health professionals, stigmatization; _________________ 2 https://www.who.int/europe/initiatives/the- pan-european-mental-health-coalition.
Amendment 94 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas structural, socio- economic characteristic, and environmental elements are among the most significant factors influencing an individual’s mental health statuswell-being;
Amendment 100 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
Ca. whereas almost one in two young Europeans (15-24 year olds) have unmet mental healthcare needs, and in several EU countries the share of young people (aged 18 to 29) reporting symptoms of depression more than doubled during the pandemic.1a _________________ 1a 2022 Health at a Glance report
Amendment 104 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C b (new)
Recital C b (new)
Cb. whereas non-communicable diseases can have a profound impact on mental well-being of European citizens, as the challenges of managing such illnesses contribute to stress, anxiety, and depression. whereas the demands of treatment and lifestyle adjustments can lead to feelings of helplessness, reducing quality of life; whereas the physical symptoms of chronic diseases, like pain and fatigue, can cause emotional distress and social isolation, intensifying mental health issues. whereas mental health conditions play a substantial role in increasing the susceptibility to non- communicable diseases (NCDs) by influencing behaviors like overeating, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, and physical inactivity, driven by stress, anxiety, and depression; whereas these behaviors, such as stress-induced emotional eating leading to obesity and subsequently diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, heighten NCD risk.
Amendment 113 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C c (new)
Recital C c (new)
Amendment 147 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Highlights that, at any point in their life, any person can become more susceptible to poorer mental health and thus become part of a vulnerable group in society; stresses that addressing mental health conditions requires a thorough understanding of the different determinants of mental health and that an intersectional approach is necessary to prevent and mitigate the impacts on individuals, communities and societies; Underlines the role of environmental factors impact on mental health and emphasizes the need to address environmental stressors, such as pollution and climate change, alongside societal and economic factors when developing Member States strategies on mental health.
Amendment 211 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Stresses the importance of social policies that tackle social exclusion, poverty, homelessness, substance-related disorders, unemployment and economic vulnerabilities in order to prevent mental health conditions and address their root causes; underlines the need to provide better instruments to help people to cope with problems; Calls on Member States to improve the access to mental health services for vulnerable population, such as racial or ethnic minorities, youth, elderly, people experiencing homelessness, prisoners, socioeconomically disadvantaged, underinsured, people living in overcrowded housing, collective sites, informal settlements or slums, Roma, migrants, refugees or displaced people; people who are victims of discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation; victims of gender based violence; victims of crime and victims of human trafficking or those with certain medical conditions, that is marked by variability and disparities. Urges Member States to include in their mental health strategies the needs of vulnerable and high risk populations and tackle the health disparities rooted in legal barriers, economic limitations, language and cultural challenges, and discriminatory practices.
Amendment 216 #
3a. Recognizes the intersectionality of various factors influencing mental health and the prevalence of institutional and systemic discrimination in areas such as education, housing, labor, and healthcare. Emphasize that improving access to decent and affordable housing, eliminating overcrowding, and supporting marginalized individuals in finding employment and reintegrating into society are essential components of a holistic approach to improving mental health. Highlights interventions not only address immediate housing and employment needs but also create an environment conducive to overall well-being and mental health resilience. Urges Member States to take measures to improve workers’ mental health well-being by respecting and prioritising workers' rights, assuring adequate compensation and social benefits.
Amendment 231 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 2 a (new)
Subheading 2 a (new)
Youth Mental Health
Amendment 233 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 b (new)
Paragraph 3 b (new)
3b. Emphasizes the significance of early detection and intervention for youth mental health issues, promoting the integration of mental health screenings and assessments into routine healthcare for young individuals.
Amendment 234 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 c (new)
Paragraph 3 c (new)
Amendment 236 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 d (new)
Paragraph 3 d (new)
3d. Encourages Member States to develop of specialized mobile mental health care clinics near educational institution to provide convenient, youth- friendly services with minimal administrative complexity.
Amendment 238 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 e (new)
Paragraph 3 e (new)
3e. Recognizes the potential impact of digital mental health services in increasing accessibility for youth, especially in remote or underserved areas. Acknowledges that digital disparities and literacy barriers may hinder some youth from accessing online mental health services. Urges Member States to provide digital literacy training and resources to equip young individuals with the necessary skills to navigate and benefit from online mental health support platforms. Emphasizes the importance of designing digital mental health resources and platforms with youth-friendly interfaces and plain language content to ensure they are accessible to youth with varying levels of digital and literal literacy. Calls on Member States to provide accessible mental health resources in various formats, including audio, video, and visual materials, to cater to the diverse literacy needs
Amendment 242 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 f (new)
Paragraph 3 f (new)
3f. Underlines the impact of climate change on youth mental health; urges for the development of resilience-building programs that address climate-related anxieties and traumas.
Amendment 271 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Is deeply concerned that, despite progress in some countries, people with mental health conditions frequently experience discrimination and stigma and often do not have access tor afford adequate healthcare, which can lead to severe human rights violations, increased risk of complications and poorer health outcomes, delayed or avoidance of treatment, social isolation, reduced quality of life, employment discrimination, increased risk of suicide;
Amendment 285 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Calls for the EU and the Member States to raise awareness of the importance of mental health in a coordinated and timely manner, through a mental-health-in- all-policies approach; Calls on the EU and Member States to include, where relevant, when developing new policy an assessment of how it impacts mental health well-being. Requires the Commission to monitor the capacity to address mental health in all policies of each Member State and publish a periodic report that analyses how Member States implement this principle.
Amendment 303 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Emphasizes that all EU citizens must have access to high-quality and affordable mental health care and treatment. Is deeply concerned by the poor availability of mental healthcare services, and inadequate number of health workers in the Member States, as exemplified by the alarmingly long waiting lists for appointments with psychiatrists and psychologists and the limited options for therapeutic treatment, as well as for in- and outpatient clinic treatment; considers that the shortage in staff in this specific sector and the lack of funding aggravate the issue; Calls on Member States to commit to eliminate financial and administrative barriers, and ensure mental health services are accessible and affordable Calls on the Commission to monitor, collect data and publish reports on the status of reaching this objectives. Calls on Members States to address mental health healthcare staff shortages in the EU. Urges the Commission and Member States to draw coordinated retention policies for mental health professionals in the EU and implement best practices. Urges Member States to invest in recruitment and retention of the mental health professionals to address growing staff shortages and address the underinvestment gap in public healthcare systems.
Amendment 319 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 b (new)
Paragraph 8 b (new)
8b. Urges the Commission and Member States to share best practices and develop guidelines to provide support in adopting flexible and mobile solutions to access mental health services. Calls on Member States to invest in and expand the deployment of walk-in mobile mental health clinics as accessible and flexible mental health care solutions, to reach individuals where they are, reducing administrative barriers for patients and ensuring prompt access to services.
Amendment 323 #
8c. Calls for the Commission and Member States to develop a cross-border network and digital tools whereby mental health professionals who can provide such services in a voluntary or low cost are connected with vulnerable population including marginalised minorities and communities, youth, elderly, people experiencing homelessness, and socioeconomically disadvantaged.
Amendment 337 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 c (new)
Paragraph 9 c (new)
9c. Notes that individuals with mental health challenges face barriers in accessing healthcare services, practicing preventive behaviours, and adhering to treatments, amplifying neglect of physical health and intensifying NCD vulnerability. The commonly reduced motivation and energy associated with mental health issues further hinder engagement in physical activities and adoption of healthy lifestyles.
Amendment 343 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 d (new)
Paragraph 9 d (new)
9d. Highlights the need to integrate adequate psychological support as a key component of chronic disease care, due to high prevalence of mental health complications in people living with chronic conditions;
Amendment 349 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Considers that mental health conditions are underdiagnosed in the EU; resulting in significant individual and societal consequences; acknowledges that this under-diagnosis is exacerbated by a complex interplay of factors, including stigma, limited access to mental healthcare services, inadequate healthcare infrastructure, and varying levels of awareness among healthcare providers.
Amendment 354 #
11. Underlines the importance of early diagnosis and intervention for mental health conditions; Encourages Member States to adopt mental health first aid training programs on large scale to equip individuals with the knowledge and skills to recognize and respond to mental health crises.
Amendment 406 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Calls on the Member States to improve access to treatment and support for mental health conditions by implementing multidisciplinary care; by developing and implementing appropriate multidisciplinary care and involve mental health services in the management of patients with chronic diseases or physical disabilities;
Amendment 415 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Acknowledges that social prescribing is a useful, practical, holistic and effective approach that can be integrated into the primary care setting within a national health service, as pointed out by the WHO in its toolkit on how to implement social prescribing3 ; Highlights that mental health support for families and caregivers is an integral part of a holistic mental health care system. Encourages the integration of family and caregiver support services into mental health service delivery models. _________________ 3 https://apps.who.int/iris/rest/bitstreams/142 4690/retrieve.
Amendment 419 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Amendment 422 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 b (new)
Paragraph 14 b (new)
14b. Highlights that effective NCD mitigation demands the integration of mental health support within chronic disease management initiatives, including psychological counselling and support groups, enhancing treatment adherence and overall well-being for those dealing with chronic conditions and their family. Underlines that mental health interventions should encompass strategies that address lifestyle-related factors contributing to NCD risk, educating individuals on healthy stress management, anxiety coping, and depression prevention to mitigate harmful behaviours.
Amendment 463 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17a. Stresses the urgent need for scientific studies on the use of digital technology by adolescents, to determine especially whether setting limitation on daily social media use, increasing media literacy, and redesigning social media platforms are effective means of reducing the burden of mental health problems in the adolescents population;
Amendment 498 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Invites the Commission to further develop its Mental Health Strategy and draw up concrete targets and goals for the future, including more in-depth initiatives, from a bottom-up perspectiveestablish clear and quantifiable objectives, alongside measurable indicators, and to set achievable targets for mental health promotion, prevention, and treatment, including more in-depth initiatives, from a bottom-up perspective; Calls on the EU and Member States to create a concrete timeline for the implementation of these objectives, with regular progress monitoring and reporting;
Amendment 518 #
22. Welcomes the EUR 765 million of funding made available through the Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe5 programmes to support research and innovation projects on mental health; calls on the Commission to track the spending and evaluate the impact and outcome of EU funding that contributes directly or indirectly to improve mental health in EU. _________________ 5 According to the Horizon Europe research and innovation funding programme.