Pay up or put it off: Europe fails to treat mental health
Long waiting lists, high fees and bureaucratic hoops: In many EU countries, psychological treatment in public health care is inaccessible or inadequate for the people who need it most.
In the EU, one in 25 people have been diagnosed with depression, one in 20 with anxiety. Yet national public health care systems often don t provide adequate treatment, according to an investigation by the Spanish Newsroom Civio, within the European Data Journalism Network.
Not all people who need treatment for mental health issues receive it or are even diagnosed. In fact, a 2017 report funded by the European Commission found that although effective treatments exist, around 56% of patients with major depression receive no treatment at all.