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Today, on World Mental Health Day, the EU-financed Compass Consortium[1] launched a new brochure on Good Practices for Mental health at work, in schools, and prevention of depression and suicide. The brochure gathers best practices from across the EU for the benefit of organisations seeking to improve the care that they provide in mental health and well-being – be they schools, workplaces, community centres, counselling services or medical practices.
Examples of potentially useful practices in mental health and well-being, gathered and evaluated by the Consortium include:
Mental health at work
This Danish initiative seeks to fight stigma at work by focusing on proven methods that prevent stigma and, instead, foster empathy and reflection. These include social activities, dialogues, films and social media actions that raise awareness of what it's like to live with mental illness, challenging myths with facts, and PR initiatives that can promote more positive stories of mental illness rather than dramatic incidents portrayed in the media.
Mental health in schools
Zippy's Friend is a programme for 5-7 year old children initiated by the education and health sectors in the Czech Republic. It is led by a trained professional (usually a teacher) and includes modules on: emotions and feelings, communication, conflicts/bullying, relationships, dealing with change loss. Each module is introduced by an illustrated story with a variety of characters including a stick insect called Zippy.
Prevention of depression
This German project focuses on e-mental health with the iFightDepression online platform. This platform has three parts: 1) a website with detailed information tailored to the general public, which includes a self-test where one can check for symptoms of depression; 2) a free self-management tool for people experiencing mild to moderate depression, and 3) training materials for healthcare professionals.
Prevention of suicide
This suicide prevention programme, coordinated at national and regional level, aims to ensure support for risk groups, develop media support for suicide prevention, integrate suicide prevention programmes into other health promotion activities, and support research on suicide.
More information:
[1] Funded by the European Union in the frame of the 3rd EU Health Programme (2014-2020)
