Welcome to the European Depression Association
The European Depression Association (EDA) is an alliance of organisations, patients, researchers and healthcare professionals from 19 countries across Europe.
Depression is already the most prevalent health problem
in many EU Member States, and more than 50 million European
citizens (11% of the population) experience mental disorders
at some time in their lives. EDA raises awareness and
promotes better understanding of the impact of depression on
people’s lives, to challenge stigma and discrimination, and
to provide a voice for those who experience depression. By
coming together in Europe, members of the EDA exchange
research, information and best practices; co-ordinate
pan-European actions, and extend the reach of their
campaigns.
Each year EDA organises European Depression Day to raise
awareness of depression across Europe. The theme of this
year’s campaign is Depression and the Workplace.
Depression in the workplace
More than 1 in 10 EU citizens suffer from depression at some point in their life and they commonly experience symptoms such as lack of attention, memory loss and difficulty planning and taking decisions. These cognitive symptoms can have a significant impact on quality of life and the ability to function professionally and socially.
Find out more about this year’s European Depression Day and depression in the workplace.
What we have done to date
- On 1 May 2012 EDA sent an open letter calling on MEPs and policy makers to establish depression as a standalone condition and to prioritise it in all policies impacting workers.
- On 5 June, after responding to this letter, MEP Stephen Hughes held an Expert Roundtable on Depression and the workplace.
- On European Depression day, 1 October 2012, Stephen Hughes re-convened a meeting of roundtable attendees to draft specific recommendations for the upcoming European Strategy on health and safety (2013-2020) and ensure it takes into account the significant burden and impact of depression and its cognitive symptoms, such as concentration difficulties, indecisiveness, and forgetfulness, in order to improve workers’ health and safety.
Please click here to watch Stephen Hughes discussing the need for legislation on depression in the workplace.
