MENTOR

Project description

Background

Following the EU Communication on a comprehensive Approach to mental health, MENTOR contributes to reducing the burden of mental health issues and promoting well-being by designing activities aimed at both the general population and individuals facing mental health challenges. Through this approach, MENTOR influences policy and practice across Europe in several ways.

MENTOR focuses on addressing needs such as equitable access to care for people with mental health challenges, reducing stigma, fostering recovery and inclusion, implementing joint guidelines for mental health considerations in all policies, and identifying evidence-based guidelines for promotion and preventive interventions targeting youth and vulnerable groups. The project also supports recovery-oriented and inclusive practices and implements personalized and holistic approaches to mental health.

MENTOR will deliver specific activities focused on people in need (displaced citizens from Ukraine, people with lived experience, youths with adverse living conditions). These activities include developing a methodological framework and standards for inclusive mental health policies and creating best practice examples in various communities. The project will implement a variety of activities, from seminars and lectures held in real-world community settings to peer-led training groups and digital solutions.

In response to the urgent need to validate ethical, effective, safe, sustainable, and trustworthy digital tools, MENTOR aims to establish a set of standards for monitoring mental health and well-being and conducting preventive and promotional activities using digital solutions.

MENTOR is fully aligned with public health strategies and complements other ongoing investments and initiatives to strengthen capacity. The planned activities have the potential for significant impact, with results focused on effectiveness in addressing key mental health issues across EU member states. Given the prioritization of mental health within global actions, these activities are expected to attract interest from multiple countries.

Purpose of the project

The purpose of MENTOR is to strengthen mental health by exchanging experiences ranging from policy to clinical-professional fields, integrating evidence-based best practices, and adapting initiatives to achieve long-term sustainability in promoting mental health and well-being at both the personal and population level.

Project objectives

1. Ensure effective dissemination of MENTOR project results.
2. Promote sustainability and implementation of MENTOR project outcomes through various mental health systems in the European region.
3. Enhance mental health literacy by developing professional guidelines and interventions for vulnerable groups and combating stigma.
4. Increase access to evidence-based practices and innovative approaches for monitoring, promoting mental health, and preventing mental disorders in communities.
5. Improve mental health monitoring systems to raise awareness, enable early detection of individuals at increased risk, and support data-driven decision-making.
6. Reduce inequalities among populations experiencing mental health challenges.
7. Promote evaluation methods and the implementation of the “Mental Health in All Policies” approach at national and regional levels.
8. Identify evidence-based interventions for promoting mental health and preventing mental disorders among vulnerable and general populations.
9. Support recovery-oriented and inclusive practices in the care of individuals with mental health conditions.
10. Implement personalized and comprehensive approaches to mental health.

Phases of the project (Work Packages)

The project is structured into six work packages (WP):

WP1 – Project management and coordination: Establish and coordinate a structure ensuring smooth and goal-oriented project execution. Support collaboration and interactions within work packages. Engage stakeholders and maintain communication.

WP2 – Dissemination: Develop and implement a comprehensive communication and outreach plan to raise awareness about the project, its activities, and achievements. Establish an internal/external web platform enabling project participants to access, upload, and share key documents, update information about activities, and promote collaboration. Maintain and manage appropriate communication tools to inform partners and stakeholders about MENTOR’s objectives, activities, and key achievements. Facilitate dialogue among project members and stakeholders. Disseminate project results to target audiences at specific events and forums.

WP3 – Evaluation: Develop an evaluation plan to guide the study of project progress by defining the scope, methodological framework, and data collection approaches. Establish assessment methodologies, including research indicators, measurement tools, and timeframes to facilitate the impact study of MENTOR.

WP4 – Sustainability: Enable and support the adoption, maintenance, strengthening, and expansion of pilot implementations and project outcomes. The standardized MENTOR methodological framework for sustainable activities includes four tasks covering all phases of situation analysis, sustainability of pilot implementations, and the development of the final sustainability plan with planned activities post-MENTOR. Use a standardized methodological framework, adapted to technical work packages (WP5, WP6), supported by a step-by-step systematic approach to capacity building.

WP5 – Building bricks for integrated and comprehensive Mental Health and Wellbeing Actions: Contribute to the progress of mental health measures in an integrated and comprehensive manner, covering various policy areas. Develop a new holistic, preventive, and promotional multilateral approach to mental health. Project partners will work on new approaches and measures across the EU, aligning with the EU’s “Health for All” initiative to promote mental health, prevent and address mental disorders at the population level, and establish support methods for individuals living with mental health conditions.

WP6 – Innovative Digital Solutions for Improving Mental Health Across Europe: Create a digital repository for promoting and evaluating mental health, supporting the dissemination of tested tools in EU member states. Support mental health, particularly for vulnerable groups, including migrants, refugees, young people, and individuals with lower education and socioeconomic resources. Contribute to better and earlier identification of individuals at risk of developing mental health disorders. Improve access to innovative, evidence-based approaches to promoting well-being and managing mental disorders across different environments and throughout the life cycle, targeting different population groups across Europe. Enhance accessibility and support the dissemination of public health interventions in member states. Identify, pilot, and assess innovative approaches to monitoring, preventing, and managing mental health challenges.

Added value

MENTOR is fully aligned with public health strategies and complements ongoing investments and capacity-building initiatives. Many planned activities hold the potential to significantly impact key mental health issues across member states. Overcoming barriers to good mental health requires an approach beyond the healthcare system, reinforcing the importance of the EU Commission’s “Comprehensive Approach to Mental Health,” which highlights the necessity of integrating mental health into policies and adopting the “Mental Health in All Policies” approach.

Expected results and materials

• Guidelines and recommendations to support the adoption and long-term sustainability of new mental health practices in various settings (including digital mental health solutions and decision-making involvement of individuals with lived experience).
• Intensive dissemination of project findings among professionals and the public to ensure results are accessible to those in need.
• Strategies and best practices for implementing the “Mental Health in All Policies” approach.
• Information on new, effective mental health support methods (best practices) available for different target groups.
• Educational materials and programs to enhance knowledge about mental health and combat stigma.

Duration of the project: from 1 September 2024 to 30 September 2027

Leading organization: Centre of Psychiatry (RPNC), Riga, Latvia

Project partners: The consortium brings together 19 organizations from the following countries: Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Ukraine.

Funding: The project is co-financed by the Republic of Slovenia, the Ministry of Health, and the European Union – Health Programme of the European Union under Grant Agreement No. 101162928.

Disclaimer

JA MENTOR is co-funded by the European Union from the EU4Health programme. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

Photos of meetings and events