Awareness of mental health is increasing around the world, especially in Europe where over 85 percent of people agree that
. Anyone can suffer from mental health problems, and they can have wide-ranging effects on an individual’s life, in the same way physical health issues can. The
, which spread around the world in early 2020, has caused and exacerbated mental health problems as almost every part of everyday life was affected. According to a survey conducted in June 2020, the share of people in Europe reporting a
was around 23 percent, while before this figure was only about eight percent. The most commonly diagnosed mental health diseases include depression, generalized anxiety, and eating disorders. Across Europe, the share of
was 55 percent in 2022, with Poland, Greece, and Cyprus having the highest shares at 65 percent.
Mental healthcare
The
cost of accessing mental health in Europe differs greatly. For example, in Romania or Slovakia, a worker earning the minimum wage would have to work more than two full days to afford just a one-hour session with a private psychologist compared to under six hours of work in France and Belgium. The cost of psychotherapy is not the only issue when accessing mental healthcare.
Long waiting lists are an issue for most patients in Europe. In 2023, Spain and Germany were the countries with the highest share of people encountering this issue, with over 80 percent.
Mental health among young people
Children and teenagers are more susceptible to mental disorders such as depression and the full effects of the mental health impact of the pandemic, especially among children and teenagers, may not be thoroughly assessed until years to come. When observing the
share of people with symptoms of depression across different European countries between 2020 and 2021, it was always much higher among younger people than adults. Between 2021 and 2022, throughout Europe, a significant
share of teenagers reported feeling low at least once a week. Italy was the country with the highest shares, with 77 percent of girls and 35 percent of boys aged 15 years experiencing feeling down more than once a week. When calculating
the mental well-being score (WHO-5) for boys and girls of the same age, England was among the lowest scores, with 56.8 out of 100 for boys and 39.3 for girls.
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