MENTOR Project Kick-Off Conference in Riga Brings Together European Leaders, to Advance Mental Health Initiatives Across the EU

Riga, Latvia – October 7-8, 2024 — The Joint Action on Mental Health Together (JA MENTOR) officially launched, with a successful Kick-Off Conference in Riga, Latvia, attended by representatives from 43 partner organizations from 20 countries, hosted by the Latvian National Centre of Mental Health.

JA MENTOR is part of the EU4Health programme and will run for 36 months. The project follows the EU Communication on a Comprehensive Approach to Mental Health and aims to promote the Mental Health in All Policies approach. MENTOR seeks to reduce the burden of mental ill-health and promote good mental health and well-being, planning activities addressed both to the general population and to people suffering from mental issues to have an impact at the policy and practice level.

This kick-off conference brought together leaders, policymakers and mental health professionals, who discussed the future of mental health policy, prevention and support across Europe. MENTOR aims to develop a sustainable, multi-faceted approach to mental health and well-being by building a strong foundation of policies, practices, and digital solutions.

The conference opened with remarks from project leaders: Sibilla Laura Neimane and Liene Sīle from the NPVC, alongside distinguished speakers such as Agnese Vaļuliene, State Secretary of the Ministry of Health of Latvia, and Anna Bulzacka-Bogucka from the European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA). The meeting agenda included presentations from following work packages:

• project management and coordination (WP1),
• communication and dissemination (WP2),
• evaluation (WP3),
• sustainability (WP4),
• establishing integrated mental health actions (WP5),
• digital innovation (WP6).

– each focusing on key elements necessary to transform mental health care and support across Europe.

Key highlights from Day 1:

• Project Overview and Consortium Engagement: updates on MENTOR’s progress and objectives, interactive discussions, and team presentations from all WP teams.
• Synergy Building: an expert session spotlighted partnerships with other EU mental health initiatives, emphasizing MENTOR’s collaboration with projects like impleMENTAL and preventNCD.
• Showcasing Digital Presentation: Norway’s WP6 team presented strategies for utilizing digital technology to promote mental health across Europe

On the second day hands-on workshops and interactive sessions were carried out. Expert-led discussions focused around practical approaches to integrating mental health in all policies, promoting social inclusion for individuals with mental health disorders, and piloting innovative tools for mental health monitoring. Devora Kestel, WHO’s Director, Mental Health, Brain Health and Substance Use Department and Ledia Lazeri, Regional Adviser for Mental Health at WHO, highlighted the importance of sustainable mental health policies and technology-driven solutions to improve mental health.

Project Vision and Future Impact
MENTOR will work to establish evidence-based practices for mental health promotion, mental illness prevention, focusing on vulnerable groups (youth, migrants, refugees, Roma, persons displaced from Ukraine and other marginalized communities). A key deliverable will be the development of an online repository to promote mental health and prevent problematic digital technology use (PDTU). MENTOR also prioritizes the involvement of people with lived experience (PLE) in policy development to foster a more inclusive approach to mental health.

The conference marked a crucial step towards MENTOR’s goal of achieving long-term impacts on mental health policy and practice within Europe. By establishing new standards, tools, and partnerships, the project sets out to reduce the social and economic burdens of mental health problems and contribute to the EU’s comprehensive approach to public health.

We’re excited to take these first steps toward a healthier, more inclusive future for mental health in Europe.

Learn more about our journey and stay connected with us for updates on MENTOR’s impact!