Bangor Professor speaks to the European Parliament Interest Group on Mental Health, Well-being and Brain Diseases

Professor Peter Huxley of Bangor University's Centre for Mental Health & Society provided expert guidance to the development (by the Economist Intelligence Unit) of a mental health social inclusion index which compares the mental health inclusion policies and practices in 38 countries in Europe.

The inclusion index covers access to services, how inclusive the environment is for people, and employment policies and practices. England and Wales came second in the overall ratings, to Germany. The UK is one of only 7 countries in Europe that has begun to use outcome measures developed by service users. The UK has some of the best practice in relation to the employment of people with mental health problems, but employment policies across Europe are the most variable of all the indicators.

Professor Huxley spoke about the index at the European Parliament Special Interest Group on mental health, in Brussels.

"I hope that the index can be repeated in years to come so that we can see progress in the inclusion of people with mental health problems throughout Europe" he said.

Publication date: 22 December 2014