The bishops of the European Union warned that loneliness has emerged as one of the most serious challenges to mental health in contemporary society. Source: The Tablet.
A reflection paper published by the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (Comece) said loneliness constitutes a profound source of psychological, emotional and, in many cases, spiritual suffering.
“The contemporary world is grappling with a mental health crisis of unprecedented scale and complexity,” the paper said.
Titled Mental Health in Europe: A Call for Care, the paper offers key recommendations for action including recognising loneliness as “a major public mental health priority” and strengthening families and community networks as places of care and accompaniment.
The 21-page paper, drafted by Comece’s Commission on Ethics, also called on decision-makers to ensure that digital technologies never replace authentic human relationships.
The mental health challenges arising from migration and humanitarian crises ought to be addressed through early intervention, social inclusion, family unity and community-based support, it argued. It also raises ethical concerns about surrogacy and repeats Pope Francis’ call for a global ban.
Europe faces a complex and interconnected set of mental health challenges, including depression, anxiety, trauma, social isolation, substance use disorders, the psychosocial effects of migration and digitalisation, humanitarian crises, population ageing, precarious employment and suicide, the paper said.
One section is devoted to the need for greater support for women, particularly those carrying significant caregiving responsibilities. The paper noted that “women are more likely than men to experience common mental health problems such as depression, anxiety, and stress-related disorders”.
A contributory factor is that women remain overrepresented in lower-paid, part-time and precarious employment, which is associated with job insecurity and psychological stress.
Balancing paid employment with caregiving responsibilities for children, older relatives or family members with disabilities places sustained emotional and psychological strain on them, the Comece paper emphasised.
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EU bishops’ paper warns of ‘unprecedented’ mental health crisis (By Sarah Mac Donald, The Tablet)
