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European Fund for Access to Mental Health

Avatar: Sara El Habib Sara El Habib

Access to mental health in the European Union is uneven and, in many countries, insufficient. In several European countries waiting lists for psychological care exceed the month, forcing those who can afford it to go to the private sector, leaving those with fewer resources unattended. However, mental health should not be a privilege, but a fundamental right guaranteed by public health systems. To address this problem, we propose the creation of a European Fund for Access to Mental Health, aimed at financing psychological treatments for people with low resources who cannot afford themselves. This fund would complement national public health systems by ensuring dignified and timely access to psychological care across the EU. In addition, it would ensure that lack of financial resources is not an obstacle to adequate professional care. For its implementation, the fund could be financed through contributions from the general budget of the EU, as well as contributions from Member States and/or European public health programmes. Therefore, access to these resources would be based on criteria of income and vulnerability, ensuring that they reach those who need it most. The ultimate goal is to eliminate the economic barriers that hinder access to mental health, promoting a more equitable and efficient model of care throughout the European Union.

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