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Supporting Mental Health in Probation: CEP marks Mental Health Week 2025
19–25 May is Mental Health Week, a moment to raise awareness, share knowledge, and promote positive mental health for all. The Confederation of European Probation (CEP) is proud to stand with our members and partners across Europe in recognising the importance of mental wellbeing – both for people under Probation and the professionals and volunteers who support them.
Mental health is a crucial component of rehabilitation and social reintegration. Across Europe, a significant number of individuals in the probation system experience mental health challenges, often alongside issues such as addiction, trauma, or housing instability. Probation services play a vital role in identifying these needs and working in an interagency cooperation with health and social care services to support recovery and reduce the risk of reoffending.
At the same time, Probation officers and volunteers work under increasing emotional pressure. Their wellbeing is essential for building a positive and secure working alliance, making sound decisions, and maintaining resilience in a complex professional environment.
During this week, CEP wants to highlight the work of its Expert Group on Mental Health in Probation. CEP established the Expert Group on Mental Health in Probation to address the growing mental health needs of individuals under Probation across Europe. This group serves as a collaborative platform for professionals to exchange knowledge, improve practices, and advocate for better mental health support in probation systems. The group is chaired by Ana Cristina Neves, Head of the Community Sanctions and Measures Division in Portugal and includes experts from Poland, Bulgaria, Turkey, Italy, Ireland, Germany and Northern Ireland with expertise in mental health and community rehabilitation.
The group is now working on two main objectives. The first is to develop a syllabus for a European Mental Health Training Curriculum for Probation Officers. And the second objective is to produce a Guide for Probation officers on ¨How to work with Probationers with Mental Health problems’, to be translated into different EU languages.
The group will present its work results by the end of 2026 and make them available for all CEP members.
If you want to get involved in the Mental Health Week :
- Share your organisation’s activities on Mental Health using the hashtag #EuropeanMentalHealthWeek
- Visit the CEP website and social media for resources, videos, and presentations on Mental Health in good practices in Probation across Europe
- Visit the European Mental Health Week website
Together, we can work towards European Probation systems that promote dignity, care, and recovery.
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