On 22–23 May, WHO/Europe will convene a workshop in Brussels, Belgium, under the pan-European Mental Health Coalition and partnered with the European Union’s Joint Action on Implementation of Best Practices in the Area of Mental Health (JA ImpleMENTAL). This event will focus on enhancing leadership and services in mental health.
The workshop aims to facilitate sustainable transformation in mental health services, making them more accessible and inclusive across all stages of life. It will gather a diverse group of stakeholders, including country delegates, organization representatives and people with lived experience of mental health conditions affiliated with the pan-European Mental Health Coalition and JA ImpleMENTAL.
The first day will address mental health leadership, including strategies to combat stigma and discrimination.
Participants will hear from advocates with lived experience and comment on a forthcoming WHO anti-stigma toolkit, created with King’s College London and members of the Global Mental Health Peer Network. They will also preview a new WHO leadership skill-building course, created in partnership with the Global Leadership Exchange.
The second day will shift to the topic of transforming mental health services. The focus will be on service continuity across age groups and the integration of mental health into primary health care. Financing these transformations will be a crucial area of discussion, and participants will explore case studies on effective funding models.
This gathering is set to inspire and promote knowledge exchange on mental health services and leadership in the WHO European Region.
About the pan-European Mental Health Coalition
The pan-European Mental Health Coalition, initiated by WHO/Europe in 2021, serves as a knowledge and practice exchange platform for over 300 stakeholders in mental health, including policy-makers, people with lived experience, and international and national organizations.
About JA ImpleMENTAL
JA ImpleMENTAL convenes 21 countries with the aim of adapting and implementing 2 best practices in mental health: Belgium’s transition to community-based mental health services and Austria’s national suicide prevention programme.
