As Roma Week 2025 approaches, the MentBox project reaffirms its commitment to improving mental health in Roma communities across Europe. MentBox collaborates with communities in Polígono Sur, Seville (Spain), to identify, adapt, implement, and test intervention tools that address the most pressing needs.

Roma Week 2025 will take place in Brussels from April 7th to 10th, co-funded by the European Union. The annual event brings together civil society organisations, EU institutions, and international bodies to promote Roma inclusion and leadership within the EU’s political framework. The event will also address the unique challenges faced by Roma communities, with participation from key stakeholders, including Roma representatives and young Europeans.

Mental Health Inequality in Roma Communities in Spain

Health disparities, particularly in mental health, remain a significant concern. In Spain, the Roma population is especially at risk due to social and economic inequalities. Data from National Health Surveys on the Roma Population (2006: Ministerio de Sanidad – Áreas – Encuestas Nacionales de Salud a Población Gitana 2006 and 2014: Ministerio de Sanidad – Áreas – Encuestas Nacionales de Salud a Población Gitana 2014) highlight these disparities. Additionally, many Roma individuals report structural barriers and discrimination when accessing mental health services.

To address this issue, MentBox advocates for participatory intervention strategies, ensuring that solutions are tailored to the specific needs of the Roma community. In Seville, the project collaborates with Fundación ATENEA, Asociación EntreAmigos, Asociación Akherdi, and the ‘Office of the Commissioner for the Polígono Sur’ in Seville.

“We believe that this project is very important for the population of our neighbourhoods and we would like this collaboration to have a projection towards the future, beyond the specific results of this project, which I am sure will be extremely interesting to refine the knowledge and specific needs of the Roma population and in general of the residents of these neighbourhoods,”

– Javier Peso, Head of the Health Area at the Office of the Commissioner for the Polígono Sur.

Roma Week 2025 presents a crucial opportunity to underscore the necessity for enhanced mental health services within the Roma population in Europe and reaffirm the commitment of European institutions in this area. MentBox continues its mission to provide evidence-based, culturally sensitive interventions, contributing to more equitable and accessible policies for all.

*Images taken from the official Roma Week 2025 website https://romaweek.eu/