Ladies and Gentlemen,
According to WHO statistics, in Poland alone, 20% of children and 25% of adults struggle with mental health issues. The situation is no different in the European Union. It is estimated that 25 million EU residents experience these issues. These figures are alarming.
Depression and substance-use disorders are the two most common mental disorders in the world. Depression is also among the top 20 leading causes of disability. But this is not just about human suffering. Society, the economy, and the European way of life—which we so often defend here and about which so much is said in this chamber—also suffer. If we want to think about increasing competitiveness, we need good mental health and resilient societies.
Health issues are, of course, the responsibility of the Member States, but the Union can support them. So let’s take advantage of this opportunity. Let’s do everything we can during this legislative term to make the European Health Union a reality and put an end, once and for all, to the disparities in the quality of healthcare systems across the European Union.
I thank the European Commission for its initiative and hard work on the EU strategy in this area.