Headway 2023

The burden of mental health conditions is on the rise globally. Only in Europe, diverse forms of mental disorders affect nearly 40% of the total population annually, leading to premature mortality and affecting functioning and quality of life of both patients and their families.

Implementing social, physical and mental health care policies should thus be a priority for the European Health Systems, in order to increase the access to an overall quality of care.
To this end, some countries have launched new policies and legislations in this area, and many are making progress running community-based mental health services, though there are still very significant differences across Europe.

Sharing local experiences and best practices in the mental health area is hence of paramount importance to optimize the framing, the diagnosis, the treatment and the necessary social integration of all patients.

In this context, Angelini Pharma – in the framework of its commitment to Mental Health and its growing leadership in the neurosciences field – activated the Headway2023 initiative, in continuity and in coherence with programs, activities and plans of the World Health Organization and of international institutions and organizations.

The project started in 2018 in collaboration with the acclaimed Italian think tank The European House – Ambrosetti and aims to promote mental health in all areas - in accordance with the recent "Health in All Policies" approach promoted by the European Union - by stimulating the debate on social and health policies in Italy and Spain, encouraging the adoption of innovative pathways for diagnosis, treatment and social recovery. The ultimate goal is to advance the current paradigm of management and treatment of mental illness, so that the social and health systems of each EU country can ensure adequate and effective treatment and care pathways and, at the same time, promote a better quality of life for patients enhancing legitimate social inclusion.

On October 9th, 2019, Headway2023 first 2-year journey came to conclusion with a high-level Forum hosted by the EU Parliament. Among others, MEPs, European multidisciplinary experts and academics, health economists and patients’ associations representatives joined the event to discuss and share opinions and final recommendations.

Angelini Pharma strongly believes supporting such initiatives in the policy-making space and recognizes the value of going “beyond the pill” with its unwavering commitment to patients and their families.