Action Plan on Discriminatory Practices in Mental Health in Europe

This article is the result of a meeting held by Mental Health Europe (MHE) in April 2004 where discussions took place regarding the results of a European survey that the group had conducted on the harassment and discrimination people with psychosocial disability face in healthcare services. Based on the meeting, a declaration was made to raise concern about the
way that many people with mental health problems are being treated within healthcare services.

According to the article, Ms Flaminia Bussacchini who spoke under The EU Non-Discrimination Programme, confirmed that the European Union (EU) has incorporated into its agenda the examination of issues pertaining to stigma and discrimination within society. "The European Commission’s policy, therefore, is the removal of all barriers preventing people with a disability—including individuals with a mental health problem—from being integrated into society. The Commission’s Directorate General for Employment and Social Affairs is committed to improving the situation of people with a disability and individuals with a mental health problem. The article states that "The Directorate General aims to use a number of policy initiatives to remove all barriers for inclusion in society. In the area of health, these initiatives have comprised the following:

• The adoption of a new strategy on health and safety practices.
• The Social Situation report of 2003
• In the context of an ageing society, the Commission is launching a series of coordinated strategies for healthcare,
  based on the principles of solidarity, equity and universality. The Commission has also invested in training and in developing the skills of people with a disability.
• The Commission has also invested in training and in developing the skills of people with a disability.
• The European Parliament has asked for a study to be made of the experience of people with a disability within institutions (due for publication in 2004)."

Ms. Pascale van den Heede, Executive Director of MHE (Belgium), spoke on behalf of The EU project on harassment and discrimination in the health sector and made this statement: "Aware of the widespread nature of discrimination within society, MHE decided to broaden the original scope of its project on discrimination and harassment. The project was expanded to incorporate discrimination within all types of health services received by people with a mental health problem—not just healthcare services specifically directed at mental illness. After a preparatory phase in March 2002, the project unfolded in three
steps: Step 1. Collecting information on discrimination (October 2002-January 2003) Data; Step 2. Developing strategies to prevent, cope with and combat discrimination (February 2003-May 2003); and Step 3. Raising awareness of the problems of discrimination, and formulating strategies to avoid such problems pervading society and healthcare (August 2003–the present)."