WP6 – Innovative Digital Solutions for Improving Mental Health across Europe

Work Package Summary

A multi-level approach is pivotal for promoting mental health within the framework of the MHIAP. This encompasses interventions on the international, national, regional, local, and individual levels. WP 5 adopts a comprehensive strategy aiming at developing and sharing plans, guidelines, and policy documents for health authorities at local, regional, and national levels rooted in evidence-based and best practice solutions. The individual level is crucial in mental health promotion due to the direct impact of mental health issues and resilience at the individual level, as well as the need for comprehensive monitoring of mental health within populations. Therefore, it is essential to incorporate individual-level interventions and assessments in mental health promotion initiatives. WP6 complements WP5 by promoting and delivering evidence based, effective and adaptable tools for promoting good mental health, assessing mental health in European Societies and thus also creating awareness for mental health problems. WP 6 will coordinate especially with task 5.2 to ensure consistent criteria for digital and non/digital instruments for early detection, prevention and treatment of mental health problems and to insure effective communication of the generated results....

Interventions and assessments at the individual level can be cost-prohibitive and inaccessible for marginalized groups, especially if they rely on one-on-one interactions. Furthermore, language barriers often hinder access to these services for vulnerable groups such as migrants and refugees. Hence WP6 is dedicated to leveraging modern technology to facilitate the efficient development and deployment of innovative web-based tools for mental health promotion and assessment. These tools can be used by authorities on all levels helping the effectuation of plans and policies, essential for addressing the needs of vulnerable populations. WP6 identifies, pilots and evaluates innovative approaches to preventing and managing mental health problems. Through the development and promotion of these tools, WP6 aims to improve the ability to identify individuals at risk, enhance access to evidencebased innovative approaches and scale up affordable interventions. Ultimately, these efforts are directed towards improving the quality of life for patients and their families.

The first task in WP 6 is to identify, collect, and share best and promising practices for web-based mental health interventions. All project participants will be invited to supply their best examples of effective preventive or promoting methods, in order to build a pool of methods and tools, which can be shared with other MS. The potential for upscaling and sharing to other Member States (MS) will be facilitated.

The second task will be devoted to adapting and implementing promising digital tools for diverse target groups. We will focus on implementing 3 solutions: A platform to manage mental health at community level, a wellbeing app aimed at individuals focusing on young people and vulnerable groups and an online platform to facilitate physical exercise for people with mental health difficulties.

The third group of tasks in WP 6 involves developing evidence based digital tools to assess mental health problems and related risk and protective factors through self-reports. After adapting the instrument for use in different MS and in particular also for use by marginalized and vulnerable communities, WP 6 will conduct a pilot study to map mental health, especially also persons displaced from Ukraine, in different MS. WP 6 will also prepare a digital self-administered version of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI). CIDI is developed and maintained by WHO, and it is a tool to assess the prevalence of mental disorders and the need for mental health care services in adults. The digital selfadministered version of CIDI will be validated against the interviewer administered version of CIDI in Norway. The digital, self-administered version of CIDI will be made available to MS in cooperation with the WHO. Finally, WP 6 will also adjust, translate and pilot a web-based screening tool designed for the assessment of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) and additional determinants that affect mental health in children and youth.

In sum WP 6 will create a digital repository for mental health promotion and assessment and support the dissemination of tested tools into member states. By achieving these goals, WP 6 will:

Support mental health especially also in vulnerable groups, including migrants, refugees, young people and people with less education and less socio-economic resources.
Contribute to better and earlier detection of individuals at risk of developing mental health problems. – Improve access to evidence based and best practice innovative approaches and methods to promoting wellbeing and managing mental health conditions in different settings. throughout the life course, targeting diverse population groups across Europe, including vulnerable groups.
Improve access and help to up-scale public health interventions in Member States.
Identify, pilot, and evaluate innovative approaches to monitoring, preventing, and managing mental health problems.

Work Package Summary

Tasks