Empowering Minds Mental Health Europe

The psychosocial model of mental health understands mental health as the dynamic interplay of diverse factors, including socio-economic background, education level, challenging or traumatic life events, and the surrounding environment. Rather than concentrating on an individual’s alleged predisposition to mental health issues, this model focuses on the barriers that each person faces throughout their life.

This podcast episode aims at explaining the psychosocial model using accessible language, with the ultimate goal of destigmatising mental health discussions and fostering a nuanced understanding of mental health.

In this episode, you will hear the voices of Mental Health Europe's Brussels-based team as they talk about their work, the goals of the organisation, and the activities that MHE leads for members. Who is organising the European Mental Health Week, and how? What opportunities can members be part of? What is the difference between the communication and the policy team? Listen to learn more about Mental Health Europe's behind the scenes!

In this episode, Jr. Communication Officer Margi Marchetti summarises the main points of discussion during the event "Migrants, Refugees & Mental Health" hosted by MEP Estrella Dura Ferrandez and MEP Tilly Metz at the European Parliament for World Mental Health Day 2022. Different experts raised concerns and practices to support migrants' mental health and to promote tailored programs for each situation. The episode will also bring to you the voices of Ahmad (Syria) and Tetiana (Ukraine), two displaced persons who share their migration stories. 

MHE Jr. Communication Officer Margi Marchetti interviews Dr. Mark Horowitz, one of the authors of the paper "The serotonin theory of depression: a systematic umbrella review of the evidence," published in the scientific journal Molecular Psychiatry on the 20th of July 2022. The review shows that “there is no convincing evidence that depression is associated with, or caused by, lower serotonin concentrations or activity.” 

In this episode of Empowering Minds, Mark Horowitz explains in an accessible way the background and the findings of the paper, allowing the general public to access the scientific truth behind the chemical imbalance theory and therefore promoting an informed and critical perspective on SSRIs.

***DISCLAIMER*** This podcast aims to inform people about the much discussed review paper by Joanna Moncrieff, Mark Horowitz and colleagues, which confirmed that there is no evidence to support the chemical imbalance theory of depression. The lack of evidence linking depression with low serotonin levels has reiterated the message that has been clear for some time and this message has been amplified by the extensive media coverage the article received. Mental Health Europe does not wish to dictate whether people should or should not take SSRI antidepressants. It is crucial for anyone considering SSRI antidepressants to make informed decisions about their recovery paths. This podcast makes the paper's findings understandable for the general public.

MHE Policy Officer Jonas Bull and his guests talk about the complex intersections between climate and the environmental issues, mental health and overall well-being. 

Carys Richards is a climate activist, finishing her Master's degree in Environment, Politics and Society at UCL and soon to be leading the Interlinked Campaign for Generation Climate Europe. 

Hannah Harrison is the coordinator of the SDG Working Group at Generation Climate Europea and a second-year geography undergraduate at the University of Cambridge. 

Cassandra Murphy is an Environmental Psychology Ph.D. researcher at Maynooth University working on the Horizon2020 project – GoGreenRoutes.

MHE Policy Officer Jonas Bull is joined by three experts to talk about the history of psychiatric diagnosis and how to develop a human rights-based perspective on mental health labels. 

Dr. Lucy Johnstone, consultant and clinical psychologist, explains how psychiatric diagnosis manuals were established and she explores other ways we can think about experiencing distress. 

Lea Labaki, human rights advocate and person with lived experience, shares her personal story of receiving a psychiatric diagnosis and the effect it had on her life. She wrote about the Belgian system of psychiatric institutions, criticising coercion in mental healthcare and institutionalisation. 

Dr. Jasna Russo is an independent scholar and a long-term activist in the mental health service user & psychiatric survivor movement. She discusses the importance of a human rights-based approach in mental healthcare.