Highlights from the Second Mental Health Network Meeting
March 11, 2024

The second meeting of partners in the Mental Health program focused on sharing expertise and finding ways to collaborate effectively.

Our discussion centered on how to present mental health data in the Euregional Health Atlas (EHA) in the future and how to make data collection more efficient.

Participants also learned about mental health first aid, as almost half of adults will experience mental health issues in their lifetime. Mark Meijer and Judith van Witsen from Mondriaan (NL)offer courses in Mental Health First Aid to address this need. At the meeting, participants took part in an interactive introductory course and found inspiration for their own national activities.

Karl-Heinz Grimm from the Heinsberg district presented his approach to developing a municipal mental health and addiction plan, emphasizing the importance of collaborating with neighboring regions. This sparked discussions among participants about the organizational structures of psychiatric care in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany.

In closing, participants were given a preview of the euPrevent PROFILE project, which focuses on Euregional cooperation to combat loneliness among the elderly. This topic will be explored further in future meetings, and we look forward to reconnecting with Mental Health program partners in the summer!