World Mental Health Day on October 10 is a reminder of the scale of mental health challenges across Europe and of the need to listen to those with lived experience, the European Commission said in a statement marking the day.
What the Commission announced
The Commission emphasised the 2026 World Mental Health Day theme, “Lived experiences heard: real voices, real change,” and highlighted anxiety and depression as the most common mental disorders, affecting many aspects of life including relationships, education and work. Citing a 2023 study, the Commission noted nearly half of Europeans reported having experienced an emotional or psychological problem such as feeling depressed or anxious.
The statement recalled that mental health is an EU-level health priority. In 2023, the EU adopted what the Commission describes as a comprehensive approach to mental health intended to help member states and stakeholders act quickly on prevention, on behavioural risk factors and on the social, environmental and commercial conditions that contribute to mental health disorders.
The Commission also drew attention to risks associated with the digital environment and social media. It said modern online platforms can be highly addictive and are designed to maximise user engagement, with children particularly vulnerable. The Commission listed existing EU laws and initiatives intended to address addictive design, excessive screen time, exposure to illegal content, cyberbullying and cyberviolence.
As a recent development, the Commission referred to a proposal published last month: the EU KIDS Act. Based on recommendations from the Special Panel on Child Safety Online, the draft law would seek to prevent children under 13 from accessing social media platforms and would establish an EU-wide minimum age for minors to open their own accounts.
Why it matters
The Commission framed its message around the combination of policy and personal action. At the policy level, a coordinated EU approach aims to support member states and stakeholders in reducing risk factors and improving prevention. For citizens, the Commission’s focus on digital harms underscores potential regulatory changes that could affect how children and families interact with social media and how platforms are obliged to design services.
For businesses, especially online platforms and social media companies, the statement signals continued regulatory attention to platform design and protections for younger users. For national authorities and health services, the Commission’s comprehensive approach is meant to provide tools and priorities for preventing and addressing mental health problems.
What happens next
The Commission’s statement encourages collective responsibility: governments, institutions, communities and individuals are all called on to contribute to better mental well-being. The EU KIDS Act proposal, referenced by the Commission, remains a legislative initiative that would require negotiation and adoption by the European Parliament and the Council to become law. The statement also points to existing guidance such as the Commission’s “Safe clicks – A practical guide to online safety.”
On World Mental Health Day the Commission’s core recommendation is straightforward and personal: “take the time to listen.” The announcement highlights the EU’s continuing focus on combining legal, social and preventative measures with grassroots listening to those with lived experience.
Source: European Commission press release
