Multiannual Financial Framework 28-34: Time to prioritise Mental Health

MFF 2028 – 2034: Time to prioritise Mental Health 

As the European Parliament is agreeing its position on the new multi-annual financial framework (MFF), which will set priorities and spending ceilings, Mental Health Europe (MHE) is concerned about the glaring lack of consideration of mental health in the discussions about priorities, structures and processes. 

Why mental health matters in the MFF: 

Responding to mental health needs is a major challenge for the EU. The 2023 Eurobarometer found that nearly one in every two people had experienced an emotional or psychosocial problem in the past year.1 Failing to prioritise mental health will increase the prevalence and severity of mental health challenges and undermine the EU’s goals on productivity and crisis preparedness. As the OECD has warned, the costs of mental ill-health are high, including economic costs of up to 4% of GDP.2 Furthermore, funding is a powerful instrument to fulfil the EU’s human rights obligations including under the UNCRPD such as independent living, accessibility of services and the highest standards of health for person with psychosocial disabilities and mental health problems. 

Prioritising mental health means:
– investing now to ensure adequate resources for mental health services and system reforms;
– tackling stigma, discrimination and barriers to access including service availability and affordability;
– strengthening prevention and promoting positive mental health by improving people’s lives in work and home environments and in educational and digital settings. 

Where mental health needs to be included in the MFF: 

Mental health in the MFF can be strengthened including through amendments to the Performance Framework and the NRPP regulations by highlighting that: 

1. The principle of parity of esteem between mental health and physical health as set out in the Comprehensive Approach to Mental Health must be reflected in the MFF through explicit reference to mental health systems and investment priorities. 
2. The EU’s commitments and obligations under the European Pillar of Social Rights and the UNCRPD must be embedded through horizontal enabling conditions that promote rights and community-based mental health support. 
3. An integrated “mental health in all policies” approach must be embedded across relevant policy headings within the Performance Framework. 

Social spending must be protected: 

MHE is also concerned about the lack of safeguards for social spending under the ESF in the current proposals. We support the calls from Social Platform, the Care Alliance and the EUFunds4Social Coalition to ensure that the next MFF commits the EU to ring-fenced social spending and reinstates existing enabling conditions.