Seventh meeting of the European national counterparts for the WHO European Mental Health Programme : report on a WHO meeting, Copenhagen, Denmark 11-13 December 2003

Abstract

The mental health programme of the WHO Regional Office for Europe has established a network of mental health professionals in the Member States who have provided the necessary liaison between the WHO Regional Adviser for Mental Health and the mental health services in countries. These counterparts have been officially nominated by their health ministries and are often working in the ministry or are the most senior government mental health professionals. The network meets twice yearly in different locations. The Seventh Meeting of the European National Counterparts for the WHO European Mental Health Programme was held in Copenhagen from 11 to 13 December 2003. Representatives of 35 countries took part. Also present were representatives of various task forces of the mental health programme, representatives of the Steering Committee of the WHO European Ministerial Conference on Mental Health: Facing the Challenges, Building Solutions to be held in Helsinki in 2005 and members of the evaluation team that assessed the WHO European mental health programme. The Meeting programme included a presentation on the Mental Health Policy and Service Guidance Package prepared by WHO headquarters and a presentation of the project Monitoring Mental Health Systems and Services carried out by WHO headquarters. The counterparts were asked to reflect and debate on the topics raised in the presentations. An update on the Ministerial Conference preparations was presented, and the counterparts worked and discussed on the selected Conference themes and proposed outcomes