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Mental health

Empowerment of service users and carers

In 2009 WHO/Europe launched a co-funded partnership project with the European Commission on empowering people with mental health problems and their carers.

Through direct involvement, the users of the mental health services and their carers can provide valuable contributions and insights. Understanding what works and what does not, they can help shape services to meet their needs. A dialogue with users and carers helps governments promote citizens‘ mental health. The collaboration between national governments and civil society helps policy initiatives meet the needs of users and carers.

The empowerment of people with mental health problems and those who care for them are identified as key priorities for the next decades in the Mental Health Declaration for Europe and the Mental Health Action Plan for Europe and the European Pact for Mental Health.