PAREA at the European Parliament launch of Headway Mental Health Index 5.0
On 10 December, Francisca Silva, Project Officer at PAREA, attended the European Parliament event launching the Headway Mental Health Index 5.0, developed by Angelini Pharma and TEHA Group | The European House – Ambrosetti (TEHA Group). The event, titled “Headway – A New Roadmap in Brain Health: Focus Mental Health; Care, Cohesion, and Growth”, opened with videos from host MEP Tomáš Zdechovský and DG SANTE’s Lorena Boix Alonso.
With key figures from the report presented by Elisa Milani (TEHA) and Andrea Fiorillo, President of the European Psychiatric Association (EPA), the event highlighted sharp increases in mental health disorders across the EU and UK, now affecting 16.5% of the population. Anxiety and depression have surged by 43.9% and 22.3%, respectively, between 2015 and 2023. Country-level disparities persist in professional availability and infrastructure, while public spending on mental health remains far below recommended levels.
Panelists included:
Celso Arango (President-elect, EPA)
Romina Boarini (Director, WISE - OECD)
Shannon Pfohman (Executive Director, Eurocarers)
John Saunders (Executive Director, EUFAMI)
Péter Kéri (President, GAMIAN-Europe)
Frédéric Destrebecq (Executive Director, European Brain Council)
A central theme was the impact of informal carers. Their invisible contributions were valued at €214 billion annually, roughly 1% of EU27+UK GDP. Panelists stressed that caregiving itself can be a mental health determinant and called for the restoration of regular family roles. Discussions also underscored the need to treat mental health spending not as an expenditure but an investment in societal resilience and cohesion.
