The problem

Mental health disorders account for 20% of European ill-health and premature death. The implementation of mental health promotion and mental disorder prevention is poor. The greatest barrier is the lack of evidence-based knowledge. There is a mismatch between what is known about evidence-based programmes and what is implemented. The consequent reliance on interventions of unproven effectiveness wastes human and material resources. The World Health Organisation (WHO) and the European Commission have called for the development of integrated databases of mental health information, on both delivery and implementation of evidence-based activities.

Overview:

DataPrev will develop a database of mental health promotion and mental disorder prevention programmes, and produce policy and practice guidelines.

The project will:

• Develop a standardised protocol for collecting and appraising programmes for people in all age groups
• Enter the programmes into an on-line information system that will support coherence in the field among EU Member States
• Support policy-making, research and good practice by translating the evidence into guidelines and training for policy-makers to promote more effective interventions across Europe

Contribution to policy development:

• Identifying good practice to assist policy-makers as they select programmes for implementation.
• Providing a standardised protocol for appraising programmes to influence future policies.
• Providing guidance for policy-makers on the transferability of specific approaches and programmes to different countries and cultures.
• Improving the lines of communication between researchers and policy-makers.

Project deliverables

• Protocol to identify, appraise and document programmes, and a database to store and search programmes – August 2008
• Creation of European and country-based networks to identify programmes which currently implemented – August 2008-February 2009
• European conference to mobilise networks and create dissemination strategy – February 2009
• Selection of good practice programmes and final completion of entry of programmes onto database – February 2010
• Development of guidelines and recommendations and completion of a ‘training the trainers’ programme – May 2010

Dissemination

• Open access online database of programmes, review reports, guidelines and recommendations for policy development, programme implementation and future research – updated regularly
• Distribution of all outputs through the networks involved in the project – as needed
• Scientific papers to be submitted for publication in peer-reviewed journals – as needed
• A training course to be distributed to a range of relevant contacts – as needed

Technical information

Project acronym: DataPrev
Project’s official full title: Developing the Evidence base for Mental Health Promotion and Prevention in Europe: a Database of programmes and the production of guidelines for policy and practice
Research priority: Health determinants and the provision of high quality and sustainable health care services and pension systems (in particular in the context of ageing and demographic change)
Specific webpage: Not available
Proposal/contract no: FP6-2005-SSP-5A
Start date: 1 September 2007
Kick off meeting: Not available
Completion date: 31 August 2010
European Commission scientific officer: Véronique Bernard, Veronique.BERNARD@ec.europa.eu

Coordinator:
Name: Radboud University of Nijmegen, Academic Centre for Social Sciences
Abbreviated name: RU
Address: P.O. Box 9104, 6500 HE Nijmegen
Country: Netherlands
Tel: +31 (0)24 361 6234
Fax: +31 (0)24 356 4606
Website: http://www.ru.nl/socialsciences/

Partners

Name: University of Warwick
Abbreviated name: Warwick
Country: United Kingdom

Name: University of Southampton
Abbreviated name: Unisoton
Country: United Kingdom

Name: Instytitut Psychiatrii I Neurologii
Abbreviated name: IPIN
Country: Poland

Name: University of Helsinki
Abbreviated name: UH
Country: Finland

Name: London School of Economics & Political Science
Abbreviated name: LSE
Country: United Kingdom

Name: Health Department, Government of Catalonia / European Network of Mental Health Promotion and Mental Disorder Prevention
Abbreviated name: Gencat/ IMHPA
Country: Spain

Name: Charles University
Abbreviated name: CUNI
Country: Czech Republic

Name: Ludwig Boltzmann Gesellschaft
Abbreviated name: LBG
Country: Austria