Global Alliance of Mental Illness Advocacy Networks-Europe (GAMIAN-Europe), is a non-profit, patient-driven pan-European organisation, representing and advocating the interests and rights of persons affected by mental ill health.
Its principal activities relate to advocacy, information, awareness-raising, education, partnership and capacity building. Overarching themes in our work relate to destigmatisation of mental ill health and the championing of patients’ rights. GAMIAN-Europe was established in 1998 as a representative coalition of patient organisations. Ever since, our work is centred on the belief that patients can and should play an effective and complementary role in developing positive and proactive policies and other impactful initiatives on mental health issues and services.
Project Staff
Erik Van der Eycken
EU Research Project Manager
Highly motivated ‘expert by experience’ in Mental Health Care policies/matters with an analytical mindset, systematic, accurate and problem solving approach. Many years of experience in EU -funded Research projects related to mental health representing the patients’ perspective in different consortia. Master-engineering by training and more than 25 years of experience in R&D projects in the industry.
Karl Lavó
Policy and Communications Officer
With a background in politics and international relations and an MsC in Policy Analysis, Karl has split his post-studies four years of experience between IGOs, NGOs and embassies across Europe. He is a native English speaker, fluent in Italian and has an intermediate level in French.
Cecilia Angulo
Projects and Policy Manager
A political scientist with an MA in international political economy with over seven years of experience in political communication and project management in the non-profit sector in Brussels. Fluent in Spanish, English and French.