PAREA EU Elections 2024
Call To Action:
Champion Mental Health Innovation in the EU
The upcoming EU elections from June 6-9 are set to kickstart a new political cycle in the EU. Following the elections, key EU positions, including the President of the European Commission, will be selected. These leaders will chart the course for policy and legislative priorities of the next Commission, influencing the future of the EU.
PAREA recognises the pivotal role the elections play in shaping the future of the EU. As a civil society organization, we are actively engaging in the election conversation, aiming to influence the selection of leaders committed to science, mental health, and the transformative potential of psychedelic therapies to enhance the health and well-being of EU citizens.
PAREA’s European Elections Campaign 2024 seeks to elevate mental health and psychedelic therapies as key priorities for European policymakers.
Please get involved to support our campaign - WE NEED YOUR VOICE!
We NEED Mental Health Innovation
Now, more than ever!
Our society is confronting an unprecedented public health challenge. The prevalence of anxiety and depression, often accompanied by deep-seated sadness or hopelessness, has escalated to a point that demands our full attention. This crisis transcends politics, touching the lives of nearly every family in Europe—those currently affected by mental illness and those who may face it in the future. The OECD highlights a stark reality: 50% of us will encounter mental health issues at some point in our lives.
Current treatments, such as antidepressants, provide some measure of relief but fall short for countless individuals. Approximately 50% of patients do not achieve full remission or encounter treatment resistance.
Alarmingly, the pace of innovation in mental health care has been lethargic for decades. Over the last three years, Europe has approved a mere single new psychiatric medication, in stark contrast to the 68 approvals in oncology. The need for more therapeutic options has never been more critical.
Psychedelic therapies are emerging as a promising new class of treatments for mental health conditions, including addictions, as evidenced by the growing, rigorous, and compelling body of research. In clinical trials, psychedelic substances are administered in a safe environment in conjunction with psychological care from trained healthcare professionals. Psychedelic drugs facilitate psychological breakthroughs and insights, and therapists help individuals navigate the experience and integrate insights into their daily life. Psychedelics are not an end in themselves; rather, they provide a way to connect pain and healing through the participant's conscious engagement in a supportive setting.
It is time for a new approach to mental health, and we believe that psychedelic medicine can be a vital part of the solution.
Once the campaign has concluded, PAREA will work with its national partners to follow up with elected MEPs who signed the elections pledge, to ensure their support in the new Parliament’s term.
