Commission participates in Lithuanian Presidency conference "Mental Health: Challenges and Possibilities", 10-11 October

Today, European Commissioner for Health, Tonio Borg, will address over 200 participants including Member States, NGOs, patients organisation and research experts, on the second day of a high-level conference on mental health, organised by the Lithuanian Presidency.
Speaking on the conference theme, "Mental Health: Challenges and Possibilities", the Commissioner will reiterate the need to continue reforms of mental health systems in times of crisis and to fight the stigmatisation of mental illness. He will explain how the EU is supporting Member States – through financing a Joint Action on Mental Health involving 25 Member States, and through addressing mental health in many EU policies, for example, employment, social protection, eHealth and EU Structural Funds.
A study on mental health, financed by the European Commission is being presented during the conference. Entitled "European profile of prevention and promotion of mental health ", the aim of the study is to provide an up-to-date profile of mental health systems across EU Member States and other countries, with a focus on mental illness and mental health promotion activities. On this basis, the study presents a list of key policy recommendations both for Member States and for the European Commission.

**To see the above mentioned study in full, and to find out more on EU action on Mental Health, see:
http://ec.europa.eu/health/mental_health/policy/index_en.htm