Last week, EUFAMI’s General Meeting 2025 brought together old and new friends united by a common vision: advancing mental health advocacy, fostering collaboration, and empowering carers and individuals affected by mental illness across Europe. The meeting was an inspiring opportunity to reflect on past achievements, discuss future goals, and strengthen our collective commitment to improving mental health care and support.
Following the General Meeting, the EUFAMI Board elected a new President, Dr. Åsa Konradsson-Geuken, who is also the President of EUFAMI member organisation Schizofreniförbundet (Swedish Schizophrenia Association).
Åsa is a neuropharmacologist and Associate Professor at Uppsala University, Sweden bringing a wealth of scientific and advocacy expertise to her new role. She has been an active member of EUFAMI, serving as Treasurer from 2023-2025, and is deeply committed to advancing mental health research, policy, and support systems.
To get to know her better, we invite you to read an exclusive interview below where she shares her vision for EUFAMI, her journey and her aspirations for the future.
We also extend our deepest gratitude to our outgoing President, Urs Würsch, whose leadership and dedication have been invaluable to EUFAMI’s growth and impact. While his term as President has ended, Urs will continue to contribute as a Board Director for the next three years.
Stay tuned for more updates!
@Staffan Eng
Interview with Åsa Konradsson-Geuken
Who is Åsa Konradsson Geuken?
I hold a position as a Senior Lecturer and Associate Professor of Pharmacology at Uppsala University (SWE), where my research focuses on schizophrenia. My brother has lived with schizophrenia for 37 years – an experience that turned my family’s life upside down, but which has also profoundly shaped who I am and why I am where I am today. As his younger sister, I have turned my family’s deep sorrow into a powerful driving force. His journey has given me a deeply personal commitment to issues surrounding schizophrenia and mental health, both in my academic research and in my broader work in society. In addition to my academic role, I serve as President of the Swedish Schizophrenia Association, I’m also a board member of the Center for Women’s Mental Health (WOMHER), and participate in the steering committee for the national network for patients with first-episode psychosis (NNNP). I am also the author of two books – one for children and one for adults – aimed at increasing understanding of mental health challenges. Through my company, Lecturing Minds Stockholm AB, I create interactive learning environments and foster important discussions to reduce stigma and raise awareness regarding mental illness. I am driven by the belief that knowledge has the power to create a society where everyone – whether living with a mental illness or supporting someone who does – can live meaningful and dignified lives. Everyone deserves access to the care and support they need to thrive.
How does it feel to have been elected President of EUFAMI?
I am filled with energy, excitement, and a deep sense of responsibility as I take on this presidency. I am eager to work together with everyone involved in EUFAMI – our dedicated board of directors, our member organizations, and the countless families across Europe. What moves me most, and fills me with pride and immense joy, is the trust and confidence placed in me with this role – it is truly a tremendous honor. I feel a profound commitment to using this position to drive positive change, amplify the voices of families, and ensure that no one is left behind.
What does this mean to you personally?
For me, it is an incredible opportunity to work on the issues that I am deeply passionate about. Leading EUFAMI allows me to advocate for better support, stronger rights, and improved care for the 25 million families we represent across Europe. I am particularly driven by the belief that everyone – whether they live with a mental illness themselves or are a family member – has the fundamental right to live a dignified and meaningful life. This means ensuring that everyone has access to the care and support they need to thrive and to feel respected and valued.
What are you most looking forward to in your new role?
I am incredibly excited to work alongside our members and everyone involved in EUFAMI to drive meaningful and lasting change. I want to bring critical issues to the forefront – the issues that directly impact families across Europe – and ensure that their voices are not only heard but truly respected and valued. We will continue to be relentless in our advocacy for a society where no one is left behind and where everyone, regardless of their circumstances, has access to the care and support they need to live meaningful and dignified lives. This is what fuels my passion and dedication every single day.
