The Role of Mental Health in Schools: Laying the Foundations for Action.

November 2007, Brussels

The workshop took place in the context of DG SANCO led activities on mental health and the DG Education and Culture (EAC) consultation on "Schools for the 21^st Century".

The objective of the workshop was to start a process of discussion between key stakeholders in the field, to begin outlining principles for potential EU level actions in three areas:

1. The State of School-aged Children’s and Adolescent's Mental Health in the EU: Data and Instruments
2. Promoting Positive Mental Health and Reducing Risk Factors in Schools: Options, Evidence Benefits for Health and Education
3. Supporting Children with Mental Illness: Reducing Exclusion and Providing Appropriate Interventions

The workshop did not seek to produce all the answers or to complete discussions in an ever changing field.  It was intended to be an initial exchange, to explore the kinds of actions that could be taken, and to discuss the potential for sustained cooperative action between stakeholders in this area.

Three outcomes were sought from the meeting:

1. A set of ‘key messages’ across three themes to which the group could subscribe, and which could be made available for wider dissemination.
2. A ‘consensus statement’ based on discussions in the meeting, produced by Commission Services, that could form the basis for discussions at future events and activities.
3. An agreement as to how the group might continue to share information and contribute to ongoing developments in EU level activities on mental health.

Seventeen experts from a range of stakeholder groups and from three EU policy areas were present. Ms Georgiou of the Cabinet of Commissioner Kyprianou attended the meeting and introduced the idea of the Mental Health Pact to the participants, which created a good dynamic for discussion. Presentations from a member state (France, exploring the recent work by the Défenseur des Enfants on mental health) and from a stakeholder group (Professor Ernesto Caffo, introducing the Florence Declaration) started a day of focussed discussions. Presentations from key experts in each area were received, and used as a driver leading to the production of a set of key messages.

SUPPORT was able to re-imburse travel and subsistence for some of the participants who would otherwise not have been able to take part in the meeting. The outcomes of the meeting assisted Commission Services in developing the consensus paper format for the High Level Conference in June.