There has been growing recognition in recent years of the significant role that culture plays in promoting mental health and well-being. For the very first time, culture and the arts are presented as part of EU health policy.

The Commission Communication “A Comprehensive approach to mental health” published on 7 June has taken steps to raise awareness and facilitate collaborations between cultural, social, and health sectors to address mental health challenges and reduce stigma.

Culture and health together

The communication mentions

• access to culture in connection to promoting good mental health, prevention and early intervention for mental health problems
• social prescribing, which is an approach that connects people to activities, groups, and services in their community to meet the needs that affect their health and wellbeing
• a planned event to support EU countries to promote social inclusion to reduce mental health stigmas
• dedicated funding for actions promoting mental health in the Creative Europe programme (current funding estimated at €3,3 million)

Next steps

The Commission is planning to start a voluntary collaboration process with EU countries through the Open Method of Coordination in 2024.

This initiative aims to strengthen the links between culture and mental health, further emphasising the importance of integrating cultural activities into mental health support systems.

Now is the time to draw on all this evidence. Now is the time to build on the good practices we have developed. Now is the time for systemic change. We have learned a lot – now let us put these lessons to work.

– said Margaritis Schinas, Commission Vice President for Promoting our European Way of Life.

Practical guide

Culture For Health, an organisation that combines local and regional European efforts on culture and art in health and well-being, hosted the "Culture For Health Compendium Launch Event" on June 22. This webinar provided practitioners from various sectors with a practical guide known as the Compendium of sustainable culture-based solutions for well-being and health.

This will help anyone interested in designing, improving, or expanding cultural interventions targeting health and well-being.

The webinar follows up on the final conference that Culture for Health organised in Elefsina on 9 June as part of a broader event "Handle with Care: Culture for Social Wellbeing".

The event brought together practitioners, policymakers, researchers, and activists to explore the ethical and political obligation of care in our societies and the potential of culture to fulfil this role. A key focus of the discussions was the evidence supporting the positive impact of culture on health and well-being.

Culture Action Europe and the Elefsina European Capital of Culture team, both funded by the EU, organised the events.