The European Union wants to fight loneliness

The European Union wants to acquire a new approach to the mental health that gives special importance to loneliness, a condition that can negatively affect “to the well-being of the population, social inclusion and cohesion”.

“The Swedish presidency intends to underline the issue of how to prevent and combat loneliness”said the Swedish Minister of Health, Jakob Forssmed, whose country holds the presidency of the Council of the EU this semester, when listing his political priorities for the semester before the Public Health commission of the European Parliament.

The head of the Scandinavian country added that “the loneliness that can have an impact on public health, mental health, the well-being of the population and social inclusion and cohesion”.

“Metal health is an issue of great public relevance. The COVID pandemic and the war in Ukraine have brought this to the front line.”added Forssmed, noting that the Swedish presidency of the Council will work with the European Commission on this aspect.

The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, advanced last September in her speech on the State of the Union that the Community Executive would prepare a “mental health initiative”.

“We have to take better care of each other. And for the many who feel anxious, lost, appropriate, affordable and accessible support can make all the difference.”said the German.

Its Executive intends to present a communication to the Twenty-seven in June with “a comprehensive approach to mental health”a health area that affects 84 million people in the EU and whose estimated impact on associated problems is around 4% of GDP, according to a 2018 study by the European Commission.

The Swedish minister indicated that during the next six months he has the objective of “exchange experiences with other (EU) countries on how they approached this issue before the pandemic or what measures have been taken to counteract loneliness”.

(With information from EFE)