Launch of the FEAM Launch of the FEAM statement statement

on Mental Health Policy Issueson Mental Health Policy Issues

22 March 2011European Parliament, Brussels

Welcome!

Few words about FEAM• FEAM was founded in 1993 in Brussels• Objective:

– promoting cooperation with the national Academies of Medicine

– extending the advisory role that the Academies exercise in their own countries on matters concerning medicine and public health to the political and administrative authorities of the European Union.

• Nat. Acad. of 13 European member states: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Portugal, Netherlands, Romania, Spain and United Kingdom.

• To better reflect the European diversity, it seeks to involve additional Academies in its scientific activities and by collaborating with other European networks on matters of common interest.

• Like its member Academies, FEAM is independent from political, ideological and commercial interests and provides evidence-based scientific advice.

• It is governed by four elected FEAM Officers:President: Prof. Hubert E. Blum (German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina)

Vice President: Prof. Laurentiu Popescu (Romanian Academy of Medical Sciences)

Treasurer: Prof. F. Rubia Vila (Real Academia Nacional de Medicina)

General Secretary: Prof. János Frühling (Académie Royale de Médecine de Belgique)

and four advisory Officers: Prof. Cyril Höschl (Czech Medical Academy),

Prof. Luigi Frati (Accademia Nazionale di Medicina), Sir Peter Lachmann (UK Academy

of Medical Sciences) and Prof. Charles Pilet (Academie Nationale de Médecine de France)

• Its member Academies nominate national delegates who meet once a year as General Assembly (FEAM Spring conference).

Current priority topics

• Mental health policy issues• Reforming the EU Clinical Trials Directive• Personalised medicine and genetic testing as an

instrument for disease prevention: evaluation of policy issues for direct consumer access

• Harmonising medical training in Europe• Better integration of human and animal medicine

European mental health European mental health policy issues: the view from policy issues: the view from

FEAMFEAM

Cyril Höschl Cyril Höschl

Past-President of FEAM, President of Czech Medical Academy, Director,

Prague Psychiatric Centre

All brain disorders: 386b euro • Health care costs: 135 “• Direct non-medical: 72 “• Indirect costs: 178 “

Cost of Brain Disorders in EuropeAndlin-Sobocki P, Jonsson B et al. Eur J Neurol 2005, 12 Suppl 1:1-27

Mental Disorders295b euroNeurological84b euroNeurosurgical7b euro

Cost of brain disorders in Europe

Lancet Neurology 2003, 2:647

Brain research vs other research

35% of the burden of all diseases due to brain diseases

8% of EU health research funding

17% of NIH health research funding

Brain research is underfunded

Charity funding

2008 20092002 2003 2006 2007

Europe Against CancerEnded

Europe Against CancerEnded

Council Recommendation

on Cancer Screening

Council Recommendation

on Cancer Screening

MEPs Against Cancer (MAC)

group established

MEPs Against Cancer (MAC)

group established

European Parliament

Written Declaration on

Cancer

European Parliament

Written Declaration on

Cancer Communication on CancerLaunch of

Cancer ‘Platform’ / partnership

Communication on CancerLaunch of

Cancer ‘Platform’ / partnership

Slovenian Presidency focus

on Cancer (January -June) +

Council Conclusions on Cancer (June)

EP Resolution on Cancer (April) EC Report on

Cancer Screening (June,

December official)

Slovenian Presidency focus

on Cancer (January -June) +

Council Conclusions on Cancer (June)

EP Resolution on Cancer (April) EC Report on

Cancer Screening (June,

December official)

EU CHANGES:

New European

Parliament and

European Commission

Moving a disease up the political agenda – the cancer example

FEAM activities on mental health policy

September 2009 – scientific meeting in Prague to review new developments in psychiatry

November 2010 – Statement to provide advice for developing coherent policy

January 2011 – publication in “European Psychiatry” to stimulate further discussion

March 2011 – European Parliament event to share views and clarify options for change

Ongoing activity – academies at national level

Promotion of mental health is receiving increasing attention

European Commission Green Paper 2005

European Parliament Resolution 2009

But there is much more to be done: “…brain diseases, of which mental illnesses are the most costly to European society, are not a high enough priority for politicians, the media, or the general public.” (Celso Arango, Parliament Magazine, 2010)

What are key societal challenges associated with mental ill-health?

FEAM analysis of cross-cutting issues for policy:

— Stigma

— Suicide

— Employment

— Addiction

— Mental health in children and adolescents

To be discussed further by other speakers

Priorities for research on mental disorders and their causes

Basic and translational research:— EU funding is relatively low

— New opportunities to integrate biological, epidemiological and social aspects

— Progress in clarifying gene-environment interaction but need standardised methodologies

Strengthening research infrastructure:— e.g., diagnostic imaging databases, brain banks

— Need for better EU coordination

Priorities for connecting research and innovation

Understanding causes of under- and over-treatment and sharing good clinical practice across Member States

Accelerating access to new treatments:— No major breakthrough in schizophrenia in 50y and

depression in 20y

— Declining pharmaceutical investments in CNS

— General problem of Clinical Trials Directive

— Value of academia-industry collaboration in new target identification and validation

Summary of FEAM recommendations

Better understanding of psychosocial and biological factors and their interactions

Capitalising on scientific advances and collaboration for more effective recognition and classification of mental disorders, further development of diagnostics and treatment methods

Sharing best practice to attain consistently high standards of psychiatry throughout EU

Success depends also on improved data collection, commitment to research and innovation priorities, and enhanced infrastructure

In conclusion: Generating and using new knowledge

Requires coherent strategy and active networks across research, innovation and health services including partnerships from academia, industry, patient groups, funders and policy-makers

Biomedical community has continuing responsibility to communicate about disorders, their determinants, prevention, and management

FEAM academies can play vital role in analysing issues and encouraging scientific community to bring about change

EBC have launched a call for 2014 to be the “European Year of the

Brain“. The aims of the year are:

•Promoting an understanding of the economics of brain diseases

and their management and ways to improve them

•Increasing the level of research funding of the brain research

•A longer term reduction in the burden of brain diseases

•Improvements in the quality of life for patients, their families and

carers through initiatives led by, and delivered in, all Member StatesEBC have launched a call for 2014 to be the “European Year of the

Brain“. The aims of the year are:

•Promoting an understanding of the economics of brain diseases

and their management and ways to improve them

•Increasing the level of research funding of the brain research

•A longer term reduction in the burden of brain diseases

•Improvements in the quality of life for patients, their families and

carers through initiatives led by, and delivered in, all Member States

FEAM Statement on

Mental Health Policy Issues:

http://www.feam.eu.com/publicationsEN.htm

Thank you!

FEAM, Palais des Académies, Rue Ducale 1, B-1000 Brussels