Call for proposals to support a comprehensive, prevention-oriented approach to mental health in the Union - (DP-g-24-25)

The expected results of this action are an improved and accelerated move towards the development and implementation of a comprehensive approach to mental health, including in areas such as mental health promotion and prevention, better and earlier detection, and interventions to tackle mental health issues, access to innovative approaches to managing mental health conditions in communities, and quality of life of patients and their families/(in)formal carers in the Member States, through:

1. collection and sharing of information, knowledge, promising and best practice approaches on a comprehensive approach to mental health under the above-mentioned areas of actions;
2. support for national, regional and local policymakers and decision-makers in the move towards a more comprehensive approach to mental health;
3. data identification and dissemination on the key social, environmental, commercial and behavioural factors that influence the mental health of citizens, especially children and young people;
4. development of policy advice and of a communication toolkit on how to best reach and involve vulnerable and socio-economically disadvantaged population groups in local community settings, on mental health issues, especially depression, suicide prevention and addressing stigma and discrimination;
5. reinforced cooperation, exchange networks and dissemination between civil society organisation to support the move towards a comprehensive approach on mental health.

The aim of this action is to reduce the burden of mental ill health through promoting good mental health and effectively preventing mental health problems across the Union by supporting the efforts of the Member States in implementing the flagship actions and other initiatives of the Commission Communication on a comprehensive approach to mental health.

The activities could cover the following areas of action:

a) promotion of good mental health and prevention of mental health problems through mental health literacy and awareness-raising, knowledge-sharing and exchange programmes for health professionals, creation of and participation in networks of institutions, patients and health professionals, identification and sharing of best and promising practices and approaches and implementable research results;

b) support for the design of integrated and coherent health policy approaches to key mental health challenges for children, such as those posed by the digital world (e.g., misinformation, cyberbullying, body shaming, aggressive marketing, undue access to inappropriate content, addiction and concentration deficit);

c) support for the design of comprehensive and coherent policy approaches and toolkits to address key social, environmental, commercial and behavioural factors influencing the mental health of citizens, including children and young people and their mental resilience;

d) better and earlier detection and intervention of mental health problems through development, piloting and implementation of approaches and tools for early detection and intervention in various settings e.g., schools, workplaces, prisons and community settings;

e) improved access to evidence-based, innovative, promising and community-level approaches and interventions in the management of mental health challenges;

f) improved quality of life through appropriate and patient-centred follow-up care with a focus on rights and breaking through stigma and discrimination.

The activities should include an equity dimension and aim at reducing health inequalities and focus on vulnerable groups (such as children, the elderly, women in vulnerable situations and migrants and refugees, Roma people and displaced people from Ukraine) and socio economically disadvantaged groups (such as persons with low education and incomes, or persons at unemployment risk).

This action is linked to and should support the activities under DP-g-24-24 Direct grants to Member States’ authorities: Promoting a comprehensive, prevention-oriented approach to mental health to support vulnerable groups.