This book aims to explore the current arrangements for providing mental health services across Europe, how they have evolved and plans for future development. It seeks to explore the broad question: Is there a common European approach to what mental health services should be and how they should be implemented? Lavikainen et al. (2000) point out that, even though there are EU policies stating what good mental health services should be, it is left to the discretion of individual countries to determine their preferred strategies for improving the mental health of their citizens.
The focus of this book is on mental health services, rather than the broader concept of mental health care.