The RE-MEND project organised its first Annual Meeting in Italy, Pozzuoli, 25-26 January 2024. The meeting gave an overview of the project progress and advancement of the various tasks. In addition, a poster exhibition provided a great opportunity to showcase first results and engage in discussions with early-career researchers. Also updates and plans on management and dissemination activities were presented and discussed. The breakout sessions drilled into the challenges, future plans and details of the work which were shared and further discussed in the plenary on the last day of the meeting.
The first results generated within the project have demonstrated the validity of project’s integrated approach and high level of ambition, as these were highlighted also in the comments of the advisory board. It was summarised that overall, the project is progressing well and is largely on track in terms of its tasks and timeline.
The next annual meeting will be held in Sweden in 2025.
To mark World Mental Health Day on 10 October 2023, the European Commission held a high-level conference in Brussels, hosted by Stella Kyriakides, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety. The event brought together hundreds of representatives from the EU institutions, national governments, international organisations and other participants to raise awareness of the new approach, hear from experts and those with lived experience, and to exchange on good practices on the following topics:
RE-MEND welcomes the Communication from the Commission on a comprehensive approach to mental health. The mental health strategy adds a pillar to the European Health Union and aims to ensure a new cross-sectoral approach to mental health issues. The EU action on mental health will focus on three guiding principles: 1) adequate and effective prevention, 2) access to high quality and affordable mental healthcare and treatment, and 3) reintegration into society after recovery.
RE-MEND appreciates that the Communication emphasises mental health as an integral part of health and recognises the multifaceted risk factors of mental-ill health. The planned actions will cover a broad range of policies and include efforts, e.g., in the areas of promoting good mental health through prevention and early detection, investing in capacity building, protecting children and the young and addressing vulnerable groups.
Read more about the EU action on mental health here.
The Project kick-off meeting was held 25-26 January 2023 in beautiful Sigtuna, Sweden. The meeting brought together all the Consortium members, 16 participating organisations, and paved a way for common understanding and interlinkages between the different work packages around which the project is organised. The work focused on the information and workflows between the different tasks as well as management aspects to facilitate coordination. The meeting was a success for planning of the work and kick-staring the in-depth discussions. It also provided a great opportunity to get to know all the members of the interdisciplinary and international consortium.
The RE-MEND flyer is now available, summarising the integrated approach that RE-MEND takes on mental health.