Our history
The history of GAMIAN-Europe has shaped a strong and diverse network that today brings together over 50 member organisations from most EU Member States, complemented by a diverse group of individual members.
The founding of GAMIAN-Europe
The history of GAMIAN-Europe began in Venice in March 1997. Twelve advocacy groups and associations came together with a shared commitment to helping and supporting people affected by mental ill-health: Fondazione IDEA, Freedom from Fear, Equilibrium, Club D&A, France Depression, Depression Alliance, Hieronimus, OCD Foundation, National DMDA, Ananke, Obsessive Action and Manic Depressive Fellowship-Wales.
During the meeting, the members appointed a Steering Committee consisting of Carla Stanek Zen, Mary Guardino (Chair), Paolo Lucio Morselli, J.P. Kummer and Rodney Elgie. The Committee aimed to define the organisation’s by-laws and statutes.
Later that year, GAMIAN-Europe members met again in Vienna in September 1997. During this meeting, additional associations and groups joined the organisation.
Establishing GAMIAN-Europe
In January 1998, the Steering Committee met in New York, USA. Following the meeting, Mary Guardino registered the organisation in the State of New York as GAMIAN Inc.
However, several European Charter Members did not share GAMIAN Inc.’s approach, philosophy, objectives, programmes or management structure. Therefore, in May 1998, delegates from five European advocacy associations withdrew from GAMIAN Inc. The delegates were P.L. Morselli (Fondazione IDEA), Rodney Elgie (Depression Alliance), Dominique Attar-Levi (France Depression), Carla Stanek Zen (Club D&A) and P. Kummer (Equilibrium).
They subsequently met in Paris, where they founded GAMIAN-Europe.
Developing the European network
In July 1998, GAMIAN-Europe registered in Zug, Switzerland. MaryLou Selo (Equilibrium) became Chair of the Steering Committee, alongside Carla Stanek Zen, Rodney Elgie, J.P. Kummer and Paolo Lucio Morselli.
A few months later, in October 1998, GAMIAN-Europe members held their first meeting in Paris during an ECNP meeting. GAMIAN-Europe also organised a symposium entitled “What the patients think”. During this mini-convention, more organisations joined the growing network.
The history of GAMIAN-Europe continued to develop in 2000. Following Equilibrium’s withdrawal, the organisation began the registration process in Belgium.
Registration and legal development in Belgium
In 2002, GAMIAN-Europe’s Statutes received approval in Brussels, Belgium, through a Royal Decree dated 14 November 2002. The Royal Decree granted GAMIAN-Europe legal personality and appeared in the Moniteur Belge on 15 January 2003.
Between 2006 and 2009, GAMIAN-Europe reviewed and adapted its Statutes to comply with new Belgian legislation on international organisations. The updated Statutes appeared in the Moniteur Belge on 25 November 2010.
Expanding our membership and focus
One of the most important changes was the redefinition of GAMIAN-Europe’s membership criteria. Full membership is open to associations that include patients in their governance bodies and actively ensure patient participation in their activities. Other associations and individuals can become associate members.
Throughout the history of GAMIAN-Europe, the network has continued to grow and evolve. Initially, GAMIAN-Europe mainly brought together organisations working in the field of mood disorders. Today, the network covers all aspects of mental ill-health and brings together organisations and individuals from across Europe.
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This allows GAMIAN-Europe to present itself as a true pan-European Advocacy organisation operating across the whole spectrum of mental ill-heath.
In 2009, GAMIAN-Europe established the European Parliament Interest Group on Mental Health, Well-Being and Brain Disorders of the European Parliament and has coordinated the activities of this Group since then.
The organisation has also produced many responses and statements with respect to relevant EU developments impacting on mental health, to ensure that the voice of patients is included in the debates and discussions that concern them.
Since 2014 GAMIAN-Europe is actively involved in EU-funded research projects and organises meetings involving its members to provide feedback and input in these projects, with the aim to ensure relevance for those affected by mental ill-health.
GAMIAN-Europe has also carried out a number of surveys to gauge the views of patients on relevant topics (stigma, compliance, mental health and employment…) – reports have been published in prestigious International Journals and presented in the European Parliament at meetings of the Interest Group on Mental Health, Well Being and Brain Disorders.
Several of our Board Members have been elected to the Boards of other prestigious European Organisations (European Patients Forum, European Brain Council, EFNA, etc.)
Today, we bring together over 50 member organisations from most EU member states, complemented by a diverse group of individual members.