Launched in 2023, the European Commission’s Comprehensive Approach to Mental Health is a holistic EU-wide strategy promoting prevention, access to care, and social inclusion, aiming to embed mental health across all policies and support well-being through early detection, assistance for vulnerable groups, and improved workplace mental health.

Women’s health is also gaining attention at the European level. This year, the European Parliament’s health committee is set to launch an own-initiative report on a strategy for women’s health, while the European Commission has published a Roadmap for Women’s Rights calling for gender-sensitive healthcare to address health inequalities and gender-specific health risks.

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a mental health condition affecting mothers after childbirth, and in severe cases can lead to suicide. It is the most common psychological condition after birth, affecting around 12% of mothers in Europe, yet it often goes undiagnosed and untreated due to stigma, lack of awareness, and insufficient support, leaving many women without the care they need. Despite growing attention on both women’s and mental health, few EU-level initiatives specifically address PPD, highlighting the need for coordinated action and stronger policy support for maternal mental well-being.

Listen to this Euractiv Hybrid Conference to discuss mental health in Europe, with a particular focus on women’s health and postpartum depression. Questions to be addressed include:

– How can the EU further embed mental health considerations across all policies to improve prevention, access to care, and social inclusion?
– What steps are needed to strengthen women’s health policies, including gender-sensitive healthcare and strategies to address health inequalities?
– How can awareness, support, early detection and treatment of postpartum depression be improved across EU Member States?
– What role can policymakers, patient groups, and other stakeholders play in strengthening policy action for maternal mental well-being?
– Which policy initiatives or best practices could serve as a model for improving screening, diagnosis, and treatment of PPD?

This is a Euractiv event funded by Biogen