Fourth Quarter 2001 Newsletter (Last Updated On: ) Retirement of Josee Van Remoortel Josee Van Remoortel Josee Van Remoortel, the first Executive Director of Mental Health Europe (formerly known as the European Regional Council of WFMH), retired at the end of October. She has served in this position as a volunteer since 1993, having previously been Chair of the ERC-WFMH from 1989 to 1993. She was a founding member of the ERC and is a life member of WFMH, which she joined in 1975. After qualifying with a Master’s degree in Community Nursing and Social Work, she held a position in the community mental health service attached to the Department of Psychiatry at the State University of Gent, Belgium, for several years. She then served as Deputy Director of the Belgian National Association for Mental Health and as Director of the Flemish Association for Mental Health. At Mental Health Europe she became involved in many activities of the European Union and served on the boards of numerous organizations. Mental Health Europe arranged a concert and reception in Brussels on 27 October in Josee’s honor, to recognize her exceptional service in the cause of mental health promotion and her leadership in trying to improve the situation of socially disadvantaged people with mental health problems. In appreciation of Josee Van Remoortel’s work, Mental Health Europe has created a special fund to benefit low-income members, to allow them to participate fully in MHE activities. Contributions can be made to the MHE account 442-8026622-96, swift code: KRED BE 99, Banque: KBC Potuit, Antwerpsesteenweb 465, directed to the “Josee Van Remoortel Farewell Fund.” New MHE Director Pascale Van den Heede, Executive Director MHE-SME Mental Health Europe has now made a transition to a paid Executive Director. Pascale Van den Heede started in the post part-time on 1 April, and took over full time on 1 November. She has a degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the University of Gent, Belgium, and postgraduate qualifications in Women’s Studies and in Human Ecology. Her work experience is in marketing and communications. Fourth Quarter 2001 Newsletter