1. According to Article 168(7) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union[1], the responsibility for the organisation and delivery of health services and medical care, including mental health services, rests with the Member States.

The Commission adopted a communication on a comprehensive approach to mental health[2] in June 2023 with 20 flagship initiatives and EUR 1.3 billion in funding opportunities. It has the main objective of addressing mental health issues through a holistic, prevention-oriented and cross-sectoral approach. Through one of the flagship initiatives, Member States receive tailored support from the World Health Organisation to reform mental health systems[3]. The Commission also regularly discusses the challenges and progress of mental health policies in the Member States in the subgroup on mental health of the Public Health Expert Group[4].

2. The Commission is aware of the mental health challenges faced by young people[5] and is supporting Member States in capacity-building through the implementation of best practices targeting young people[6], a multidisciplinary training and exchange programme for health and other professionals working with young people, and the development of a prevention toolkit together with Unicef[7].

The mission letter to the Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare includes the priority of addressing the impact of social media and excessive screentime on wellbeing and mental health of young people.

Based on this, the Commission plans to launch an EU-wide inquiry to start an evidence-based debate on the issue. The specific scope, methodology, and timeline of the inquiry are being discussed.

Last updated: 1 July 2025