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PRESS RELEASE
World Mental Health Day 2015: Dignity in mental health
Millions of people remain unemployed because of stigma around mental health problems
Brussels, 9 October 2015 -“Discrimination against any person on the basis of disability is a violation of
the inherent dignity and worth of the human person” states the Preamble of the UN Convention on the
Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Yet, people with mental health problems and psychosocial disabilities
continue to suffer from stigma and discrimination every day and remain one of the groups most
discriminated against in society, particularly when it comes to employment, which is strongly linked to a
person’s income, social status and sense of dignity.
OECD data from 2014 shows that people with severe mental health conditions are 6-7 times more likely
to be unemployed than people without and those with a mild-to-moderate condition are 2-3 times
more likely to be unemployed. Research shows that the longer people are unemployed, the more
damaging the consequences for their mental health and the less likely they are to ever work again. Most
alarmingly, a 2012 WHO study also showed that in the EU, increases in national unemployment rates are
associated with increases in suicide rates (3,52) : It is time the EU took decisive action to decrease the
unacceptably high rates of depression and suicide related to unemployment.
For people with mental health problems to live full and dignified lives, access to employment is vital as it
can improve income, life-satisfaction and inclusion, thus paving the way to recovery. The recent
European Commission proposal for a Council Recommendation on the integration of the long-term
unemployed into the labour market does not sufficiently address the link between long-term
unemployment and mental health. Therefore, MHE calls on the European institutions to fully integrate
the mental health perspective in their current efforts to deliver on the Europe 2020 targets of improving
employment rates and fighting social inclusion and poverty. MHE will shortly issue a position paper on
the recommendation with concrete proposals for including the mental health perspective.
In order to prevent an increase in unemployment rates, early mental health intervention in the
workplace, and rehabilitation programmes are essential. Existing National best practice programmes as
outlined in the recent OECD study “Fit Mind Fit Job” should be spread further with the support of the
European Commission and in collaboration with civil society. Evidence-based programmes such as
Individual Placement and Support should also be supported to cater for the employment needs of people
who are long term unemployed because of severe mental ill health.
The recent review of the EU by the UN CRPD highlighted the unacceptably high unemployment rate of
persons with psychosocial disabilities and recommended that the EU take effective actions to address
this including by providing training on reasonable accommodation and accessibility in the context of
employment. MHE hopes that World Mental Heath Day 2015 will help shine a light on this issue and
spread the message to employers, policy-makers as well as entire community: equal employment
opportunities and anti-discrimination policies are essential for people with mental health problems to
live with dignity!
Note to editors
Since 1992, World Mental Health Day is observed on 10 October every year. The theme for this year's
awareness day is 'Dignity in Mental Health' and looks at what can be done to ensure people with
mental health problems can live with dignity. The objective of this theme is to show how dignity can
be provided in all aspects of mental health. Mental Health Europe has decided to focus on
employment as a perspective of recovery for people with mental health problems.
About Mental Health Europe
Mental Health Europe is an umbrella organisation which represents associations, organisations and
individuals active in the field of mental health and well-being in Europe, including service providers,
(ex)users of mental health services, volunteers and professionals. As such, MHE bridges the gap between
its 75 member organisations and the European institutions, and keeps its members informed and
involved in any developments at European Union level. Find further information about us here and here.
For more information, please contact:
Ophelie Martin
Mental Health Europe Communications Officer
[email protected]