A New Year, A Shared Vision

Blog post from Mental Health Europe Director Kadri Soova

As we enter 2026, I want to start with a simple thank you. Thank you to our members, the MHE team and Board, our partners, and wider community for keeping mental health on the agenda with your persistence and commitment. Mental Health Europe is a community built on trust and shared values. We may work in different contexts and countries, but we share the conviction that mental health is not only about services but about how society is organised, and whether people feel safe, supported, included and in control of their lives.

2025 was a year of transition for Mental Health Europe. In May, I stepped into the Director role following Claudia’s departure, and we welcomed several new colleagues: Nabil as Communications Manager, Ann Katrin and Rayan as Policy Officers and Gumru as Project Officer. Throughout these changes, our Board remained a steady anchor, offering support and expertise.

We also strengthened our basis by developing two key strategies: our Strategic Plan 2026–2030 and our Membership Strategy 2026–2030. We welcomed new members into the network, further strengthening the collective voice that makes MHE what it is.

On the EU side, 2025 brought momentum. The creation of the European Parliament Intergroup on Mental Health was a major step forward, and MHE was proud to be invited to act as secretariat together with GAMIAN-Europe. We also published important new work, including our Gender and Mental Health report, and a short guide on informed consent to treatment, which clearly explains how to strengthen autonomy and dignity by ensuring people are informed, respected, and in control of their recovery.

2026 will be a defining year. As the EU Comprehensive Approach to Mental Health concludes, we will strongly advocate for an EU Mental Health Strategy to ensure continuity and ambition. We will engage in the next MFF discussions to push for investment aligned with a psychosocial and community-based approach. We will focus on housing and deinstitutionalisation, and continue prioritising young people and digital wellbeing, including through our Young Leaders programme.

We are looking forward to campaigning again during European Mental Health Week (4–6 May 2026) under the theme Stronger Together: Prioritise Mental Health in a Changing Europe. And at the end of May, we will run the Brussels 20km with our Run for Mental Health team, do join us to run and/or sponsor!

Mental health policy cannot be limited to healthcare policy. If we want meaningful progress, mental health must be visible in social policy, education, employment, digital and equality policy, housing and funding decisions. At MHE, we will keep pushing for an approach that is psychosocial, rights-based, and reflecting the realities of everyday life. Thank you for being part of this work. I’m looking forward to what we can achieve together with you, our members and partners across Europe.

Kadri Soova, Director, Mental Health Europe