To mark European Mental Health Week, we are proud to release our new policy paper, “Leading, not Lagging: Putting Mental Health at the Core of Europe’s Innovation and Competitiveness Agenda.”

 

 

Mental health is not just another disease area — it is a foundational layer that underpins every aspect of human life and societal functioning. As such, the EU should place it at the centre of both its societal goals and its innovation and competitiveness agenda.

 

Mental health conditions now account for more years of poor health than cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, and chronic respiratory illness combined — making them the single largest contributor to long-term ill health. Innovation continues to lag: psychiatry ranks last among all therapeutic areas in the share of commercial clinical trials conducted in the EU. Yet, for the first time in decades, transformative solutions, such as psychedelic therapies, are within reach. 

 

 

The policy paper presents a strategic vision to make mental health a flagship priority — on par with areas like oncology — within Europe’s broader strategy for life sciences and research. It outlines outlines five concrete proposals:

 

This is not only a time of urgent need, but also of unprecedented opportunity. With restrictive environments and uncertainty driving researchers away from other global regions, Europe is emerging as a safe, attractive home for scientific talent and responsible innovation. Mental health is a field where Europe once led — and could again leap ahead. If seized, this moment could turn mental health into a European leadership story.