PAREA issues commentary on EU's high-level expert report: recommendations for prioritizing mental health funding and support

PAREA has issued a commentary in response to a recent high-level expert report commissioned by the European Commission, which outlines strategic recommendations for the future of the EU’s R&I Framework Programme. The report underscores the need for increased funding and prioritization of critical societal challenges like mental health, which is increasingly affecting Europeans but remains underfunded and under-researched.

Among the report's key recommendations is the establishment of a Societal Challenges Council, aimed at tackling issues with limited commercial appeal, such as mental health. This Council would focus on addressing urgent societal needs, fostering innovation in areas like mental health that the pharmaceutical industry often overlooks due to lower market potential.

The report highlights a stark disparity in funding: despite mental health costing Europe €461 billion annually, only 0.68% of Horizon 2020's budget was allocated to mental health research. In line with the outcomes of the Conference on the Future of Europe, the report urges the EU to prioritize investments to “improve understanding of mental health issues and ways of addressing them.”

PAREA supports the report’s recommendations, calling for a dedicated EU mission on mental health, akin to the existing Cancer Mission, within Horizon Europe. Such an initiative would bolster R&I efforts in mental health and create a more supportive environment for innovation and care. Additionally, PAREA advocates for specific incentives within the EU pharmaceutical package to stimulate investment in developing novel treatments for mental health.