GAMIAN-Europe participated in two high-level mental health events held in Ireland on 15 and 16 October 2026, as part of the Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Represented by Hilkka Kärkkäinen, Immediate Past President, our organisation contributed to discussions on strengthening mental health policies and ensuring that people with lived experience have a meaningful role in shaping mental health services and systems.
Organised by Ireland’s Department of Health as part of the Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the events brought together policymakers, mental health professionals, researchers and people with lived experience to exchange perspectives on the future of mental health in Europe.
Strengthening mental health policies across Europe
On 15 October, the conference “Resilient Europe: Mental Health as a Strategic Asset for Europe’s Strength and Competitiveness” took place in Cork, bringing together European stakeholders to discuss the importance of mental health for individual wellbeing, stronger communities and Europe’s preparedness for future challenges.
Discussions explored how mental health can be better integrated into European policies, alongside the need to strengthen support systems, address inequalities and ensure that people experiencing mental health difficulties are not left behind, particularly during times of crisis.
Hilkka Kärkkäinen contributed to the panel “Mental Health Policies for Everyone”, alongside representatives from the WHO Regional Office for Europe, OECD, Ireland’s Department of Health and lived experience advocacy.
The discussion provided an opportunity to bring the patient perspective to European policy conversations, highlighting the importance of developing accessible, inclusive and person-centred mental health services that respond to people’s needs.
Recognising the value of lived experience
On 16 October, the event “Voices in Recovery: Celebrating Lived Experience” took place in Waterford, focusing on the role of lived experience in improving mental health care.
The event brought together people with lived experience, policymakers, researchers and mental health professionals to explore how their knowledge and perspectives can contribute to better services, recovery-oriented approaches and more meaningful collaboration between service users and professionals.
Discussions also highlighted the importance of peer support and the WHO Regional Office for Europe’s efforts to integrate lived and living experience into mental health policies and systems.
For GAMIAN-Europe, these discussions reflect a fundamental principle: people affected by mental ill-health should not simply be consulted, but recognised as partners in the development, delivery and evaluation of mental health policies and services.
Keeping the patient perspective at the centre
The two events addressed different but closely connected priorities: strengthening Europe’s approach to mental health and ensuring that the people most affected by mental health policies and services have a meaningful role in shaping them.
Through its representation at these events, GAMIAN-Europe continued to bring the perspectives of people with lived experience into European discussions, advocating for approaches that are inclusive, rights-based and responsive to their needs.
Meaningful involvement is essential to building mental health systems that work for the people they are intended to support. Ensuring that lived experience informs decisions, from policy development to everyday care, remains central to GAMIAN-Europe’s advocacy.
