The Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE) published on Thursday, 7 May 2026, the Reflection Paper entitled “Mental Health in Europe – A Call for Care”. The document offers an ethical and human-centred contribution to the growing European public and political debate on mental health, calling for policies rooted in human dignity, solidarity and integral care.

The COMECE document was released in the context of the 2026 European Mental Health Week (4-8 May 2026), coordinated by Mental Health Europe and highlighting community, resilience, and inclusive policies, aiming to move conversations from crisis response toward prevention and collective action.

At a time when Europe is facing a complex and interconnected set of mental health challenges, the COMECE Reflection Paper highlights the need for a holistic approach that places the human person at the centre.

According to COMECE, this is particularly necessary today in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic and amid the many social, economic, demographic and geopolitical crises characterising the present period. These challenges include depression, anxiety, loneliness, trauma, social isolation, substance abuse, precarious employment, the psychosocial effects of migration and digitalisation, humanitarian crises and suicide.

Rooted in Christian anthropology, the document recalls that mental health cannot be reduced solely to a clinical or technical issue. Catholic teaching affirms the inherent dignity, unity and relational nature of every human being. Consequently, mental vulnerability calls not only for treatment but also for compassion, accompaniment, inclusion and hope.

Elaborated by the COMECE Commission on Ethics, led by H.E. Mgr Anton Jamnik, the Reflection Paper aims to provide EU policymakers, healthcare professionals and civil society actors with ethical reflections and practical orientations capable of supporting mental well-being across Europe.

Among the key recommendations contained in the document are:

  • recognising loneliness as a major public mental health priority and strengthening families and community networks as places of care and accompaniment;
  • ensuring that digital technologies support and never replace authentic human relationships, while safeguarding privacy and protecting vulnerable persons from the harmful effects of uncontrolled digitalisation;
  • promoting greater support for women, particularly those carrying significant caregiving responsibilities, through more holistic and human-centred policies;
  • addressing the mental health dimension of migration and humanitarian crises through early intervention, social inclusion, family unity, linguistic integration and community-based support;
  • reinforcing the links between ecological, social and mental well-being, especially in the context of climate-related displacement and loss of community identity;
  • reaffirming the importance of palliative care that protects human dignity until natural death, including spiritual accompaniment and psychosocial support.

The document also raises ethical concerns regarding surrogacy, underlining the importance of protecting the maternal-foetal bond and recalling Pope Francis’ call for a global ban on surrogacy.

Through this publication, COMECE wishes to contribute constructively to the ongoing European discussion on mental health, which has grown significantly since the Covid-19 pandemic, by offering a perspective that integrates the biological, psychological, social and spiritual dimensions of the human person.

Download the COMECE Reflection Paper