The week of 4–8 May marks European Mental Health Week 2026
This year’s theme, “Stronger Together: Prioritise Mental Health in a Changing Europe” is a call for collective action at a time when Europe is experiencing a profound transformation characterised by digital shifts, raising inequalities, increasing pressures on young people, and uneven access to support systems.
In this context, the Societal Impact of Pain (SIP) underscores the frequent co-occurrence of pain and mental health conditions, which together can severely reduce quality of life and create a self-perpetuating cycle of disability:
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- The close link between pain and mental health. Depression, anxiety, and pain have an estimated co-morbidity rate of around 65%. Pain prevalence is also notably high in individuals with bipolar disorder, with data indicating that approximately 29% report pain (mainly chronic musculoskeletal pain and migraine) representing more than double the risk compared with those without a mental health condition. Moreover, individuals without a mental health condition but experiencing moderate to severe pain lasting more than 12 months are at increased risk of developing one.
- The need for integrated care. Pain and mental health are closely interconnected. Thus, treating them in isolation often leads to poorer outcomes: mental health interventions are less effective when chronic pain is unaddressed, and pain management is less successful when underlying mental health conditions are not adequately treated.
The 2023 SIP Joint Statement on Pain and Mental Health signed by the Council of Occupational Therapists for the European Countries (COTEC), the Euro Youth Mental Health (EYMH), the Europe Region World Physiotherapy, the European Brain Council (EBC), the European Cancer Organisation (ECO), the European Federation of Neurological Associations (EFNA), the European Federation of Psychologists Associations (EFPA), the European Psychiatric Association (EPA), the GAMIAN-Europe, outlines key recommendations for EU and national policymakers to drive action and change in this area.
Also, make sure to download the leaflet summing up the main takeouts from the SIP Joint Statement on Pain and Mental Health here!