UN convenes first-ever conference on mental health in Europe

With Europe accounting for nine of the top 10 countries with the highest rates of suicide in the world, health ministers from 52 European countries opened a four-day United Nations-sponsored conference today to address mental health problems on a continent that is poorly equipped to cope.

"Mental health problems exact high costs to society in both human suffering and economic terms," the UN World Health Organization (WHO) said of the meeting in Helsinki, Finland - the first-ever to be held by the WHO Regional Office for Europe.

The agency noted that mental health problems affect one in four people at some time in their lives but services across the European region are poorly equipped to cope, even with those whose problems are severe.

"There is an enormous treatment gap," WHO said in a news release. "For example, half of those with depression receive no treatment and many countries have few community-based mental health services and little specialist help for young people. Stigma and prejudice are widespread and affect whether people seek and receive help and the status of services."

It underscored the neglect and abuse of human rights in large mental institutions, reflected in high mortality rates. With much now known about what works in treating or preventing mental disorders, the conference seeks to reach agreement among the 52 participating countries on effective policies and actions to be taken.

The conference is organized by the WHO Regional Office for Europe in collaboration with Finland and in partnership with the European Commission and the Council for Europe.