Sub-task 6.2.1 Improve and adapt an online platform and guidelines for mental health promotion for municipalities, schools, and workplaces (Subtask lead: Iceland)

Summary

The aim of this task is to provide participating countries with a promising tool/online platform for improving mental health and wellbeing in community settings. Iceland has developed an evidence-based approach with guidelines for health promotion, including mental health and wellbeing, for municipalities, schools, and workplaces. The guidelines are available on a free online platform, including checklists that can be used to evaluate the current state of the setting, track progress, and inform plans for improvement. The approach is based on the Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion, (Mental) Health in All Policies, Healthy Cities, and Health Promoting Schools (Schools for Health Europe – SHE) developed by the World Health Organization, as well as previous experience of other comparable work in Iceland and abroad. The criteria were based on current data and literature on evidence-based methods on mental health promotion and were a product of cocreation between professionals at the Directorate of Health in Iceland and focus groups comprised of experts in the field. In this subtask firstly the guidelines will be translated into English and participating MS will work together as well as within MS to evaluate and improve the platform and checklists. Secondly, based on the common English versions, MS identify core principles that are valid in all member states. Thirdly in the MS the core principles are translated, and local principles / guidelines/tools are added. Fourthly in a feedback loop, MS meet to see some of the added local principles and decide which ones are added to the core principles. The final platform is developed based on these four factors.

As part of the development and improvement participating MS will test the platform with relevant user groups, sharing the results to inform the improvement of the platform, especially considering the needs of vulnerable/marginalized groups (for instance older people, refugees, and displaced people from Ukraine etc.). The end product is informed by the user testing, to reflect their policies and needs of MS. Online workshops will be held on the process of co-creation/adaptation of the guidelines and on how to attract and engage communities to use the platform to their advantage. Synergies with WP 5.1 and 5.2 will be explored. The final product (online workspace and guidelines/checklists for mental health promotion in schools, municipalities, and workplaces at policy level) and all translations/adaptations will be made available to all MS at no cost and free licence to use (open access).