~Mental Health Europe – Sante Mentale Europe~
New Energy for Mental Health in the European Region
by Art-Jan Vrijland
Honorary Secretary, Mental Health Europe
The European Regional Council of WFMH has changed its name and its organizational structure. This decision was taken on 4 July 1998, after preparations lasting more than two years, during the General Assembly of ERC-WFMH which took place at this year’s ERC annual conference in Edinburgh, Scotland.
The new name will be Mental Health Europe – Sante Mentale Europe. European Regional Council of WFMH will be used as a sub-name. MHE will operate within the philosphy and within the overall policy of WFMH. At the General Assembly ninety-nine members voted in favor of the changes in the ERC Statutes, with only six members voting against the new structure. In addition to offering a combined membership for Mental Health Europe and WFMH, an option for a single Mental Health Europe membership will be offered. With the new structure Mental Health Europe will be better equipped to combine its co-ordinating and representative roles in the very complex European region with its activities in the global Federation.
The President of WFMH, Marten deVries, congratulated MHE at the General Assembly on this new phase in the development of the organization. Dr. deVries stated that this European evolution toward more regional influence and effectiveness might be an example for other regions as well. The details of the organizational relationship between MHE and WFMH and of the combined fee structure will be worked out by the officers of the two organizations in the next few months. MHE will develop activities according to the strategic plan adopted earlier. The main goal of the plan is to make MHE more valuable to its members, especially its full organizational members (national, regional and local mental health organizations). In accordinance with current and future needs, services to provide members with representation, information and other assistance will be developed. It is hoped that this will lead to a substantial increase in membership, and that the membership fee will provide MHE with the means to pay for the member-oriented services. Additional funding by the European Union and others will be used for special programs and campaigns. The overall aim of Mental Health Europe is to become operationally stronger within the European region, and a more reliable partner within WFMH.