Tackling cyberbullying must be key focus for EU mental health strategy
MAYO MEP Maria Walsh is calling for an EU-wide mental health strategy and has stressed that tackling cyberbullying must be a key focus of the initiative.
Ms. Walsh will lead a historic debate on mental health at the European Parliament in Strasbourg later this morning. She will call for a comprehensive approach to mental health, noting that an immediate initiative is needed to promote the wellbeing of millions of people across the EU, tackling the stigma and discrimination that continue to surround mental health.
Ms. Walsh has championed the mental health debate at European level since her election in 2019 and has been campaigning to get the subject on the Strasbourg calendar ever since.
Speaking ahead of today’s plenary session, she said tailored, age-appropriate supports must be introduced as part of a new EU mental health strategy.
She commented: “We need to take action to improve the daily lives of millions of EU citizens. The Covid pandemic further highlighted and exacerbated a critical, and widening gap in mental health care across Europe, and a recent OECD report found that levels of mental distress have increased, with the prevalence of anxiety and depression even doubling in some countries.
“Shockingly, the pandemic also led to an increase in cyberbullying and a recent SpunOut survey saw two-thirds of Irish teen respondents stating that cyberbullying is worse than face-to-face bullying, with over half saying it is more of an issue than drug abuse.”
She continued: “The study also found that 45% of Irish teens feel helpless as victims of cyberbullying, and one-in-four experienced suicidal thoughts after being a target. These are frightening statistics.
“2022 was the European Year of Youth and as we look ahead to 2023 as the European Year of Education and Training, it is vital that we take immediate action to protect our children, our young people and our society at large.”
The Fine Gael MEP said mental health has been ignored for far too long and our citizens - across all age groups and all demographics - are suffering.
“Mental health challenges do not conveniently begin when an individual reaches a certain age. We need an initiative that presents tailored, age-appropriate supports from primary school level right the way up. 2023 will be the European Year of Education and Training and it is important we find a way to share best practices in the area of mental health education and training. It is hard to expect people to talk about and look after their mental wellbeing if they have never been taught how,” she said.