Protecting mental health in times of change (MENTBEST)

Duration: 01.04.2023–31.03.2028
Funding: 470 840 EUR
National coordinator: Airi Värnik
Project manager: Rainer Mere
Funder: European Union, Horizon Europe “Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2021-2027)”
Institution: Estonian-Swedish Mental Health and Suicidology Institute

MENTBEST aims at mitigating the negative impacts of transformation and seizing new opportunities: Global trends such as war, economic crisis, climate change, migration, digitalisation, pandemics, ageing and demographic change, place increasing stress and pressure on European societies to adapt to fast-changing situations. These stressors can trigger mental health problems for significant parts of the population. These problems include both non-clinical aspects (mental distress, sub-diagnostic depressive symptoms, reduced quality of life and well-being, “burnout”, anxiety syndromes) and clinical aspects (mental disorders such as depression and anxiety disorders according to ICD-10, increased suicide risk). Particular vulnerable groups within the general population (e.g., migrants/refugees, younger people, older people, long-term unemployed, those with mental disorders) are especially at risk of finding themselves disadvantaged by dramatic societal change, of experiencing particular stressors, and of suffering (further) negative impacts on their wellbeing, including mental health.

MENTBEST will develop, implement, validate and evaluate a Comprehensive Multifaceted Community-based Intervention (“COMBINA”), based on the proven EAAD intervention programme, but adapted and broadened for the specific needs of the vulnerable groups (above), and for non-clinical mental health challenges as outlined above, including sub-diagnostic depressive and anxiety symptoms, burnout and mental distress, as associated with dramatic societal change. COMBINA will be implemented in five model regions in five different European countries, which vary greatly in terms of geography, socioeconomic conditions, and mental health ecosystem (Ireland, Spain, Albania, Estonia, Greece) and be evaluated with a special focus on the vulnerable groups within the model regions. An innovative addition is the RCT of app-based self-monitoring and self-management technologies for mental health, which use AI and n=1 longitudinal statistics to create individualised predictive models and provide users preventive and self-management support.

Mental Health Support for Ukrainian Refugees (MESUR)

Duration: 01.12.2022–30.11.2024
Funding: 92 361 EUR
National coordinator: Peeter Värnik
Project manager: Rainer Mere
Number: 101101460
Funder: European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA), EU4Health projects to provide mental health support to Ukrainian refugees, Ministry of Social Affairs
Institution: Estonian-Swedish Mental Health and Suicidology Institute

The 2022 Ukrainian crisis has forced millions of people to flee their homes to neighbouring European countries. Refugees experience an increased prevalence of disorders such as depression, disabling anxiety and psychosis, due to psychological and social stresses. On fleeing, treatment is disrupted and the risk of their disorder deteriorating and relapses, increases. National healthcare systems lack resources to diagnose and treat mental health; the sudden influx of displaced people worsens this existing capacity challenge – exacerbated by language and cultural barriers when treating displaced persons. The MESUR project will address this treatment gap by facilitating treatment options for displaced persons with depression. It will do this by: 1) Providing immediate mental health support by implementing the digital, evidence-based intervention iFightDepression® suite (translated into Ukrainian and Russian) in six implementation countries (Poland, Germany, Hungary, Bulgaria, Greece, and Estonia); 2) this will alleviate pressure on the national healthcare systems and actors involved in the refugee crisis in the six implementation countries; 3) it will generate knowledge by training health professionals, including displaced Ukrainian mental health professionals about depression, PTSD, and other prevalent mental disorders amongst displaced perons; and 4) deliver a Best Practice Guideline and Implementation Toolkit to support further countries to implement iFightDepression® to support refugee populations. MESUR is delivered by an inter-disciplinary consortium with expertise in mental health, migrant and refugee populations, community-based interventions and implementation science.

Adapting and Implementing EAAD´s Best Practice Model to Improve Depression Care and Prevent Suicidal Behavior in Europe (EAAD-Best)

Duration: 02.04.2021–01.04.2024
Funding: 206 544 EUR
National coordinator: Merike Sisask
Project manager: Rainer Mere (since 01.12.2021, iFD ja WP6 management) ja Lenne Lillepuu (since 01.02.2023, Pärnu Alliance Against Depression network management), Agnes Sirg (02.04.2021-31.01.2023)
Number: 101018325
Funder: European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA), third EU health programme (predecessor of EU4Health), Ministry of Social Affairs
The project is supported by the National Foundation of Civil Society (10 000 EUR)
Institution: Estonian-Swedish Mental Health and Suicidology Institute

The main goal of EAAD-Best is to reduce the burden associated with depression and suicidal behaviour at the individual and societal level in Europe. This goal will be achieved by supporting the implementation of the EAAD 4-level intervention concept in target regions and countries, plus the national promotion of the iFightDepression® tool. In 4-level concept, intervention activities are simultaneously run at primary care and mental health care, general public, community facilitators and gatekeepers, high risk patients and their families. The multilingual iFightDepression® awareness website aims to promote awareness of depression and suicidal behaviour and the internationally implemented iFightDepression® tool is a guided, online-based self-management programme for people suffering from mild to moderate forms of depression.

MasterMind (MAnagement of mental health diSorders Through advancEd technology and seRvices – telehealth for the MIND)

Duration: 10.02.2015–28.02.2017
Funding: 43 760 EUR
Grant Agreement number: 621000
Principal investigator: Airi Värnik
Number: MasterMind
Funder: ICT Policy Support Programme (ICT PSP) as part of the Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (CIP) by the European Community
Institution: Estonian-Swedish Mental Health and Suicidology Institute

Reducing risk of Suicide by Education

Duration: Sept 2015 – Sept 2017
Funded by: NORDPLUS Adult (Project number NPAD2015/10279)
Project partners: Lithuanian College of Democracy (Lithuania, the coordinator), Lithuanian University of Educational Sciences (Lithuania), Education Society Imanta (Latvia), Estonian-Swedish Mental Health and Suicidology Institute (Estonia) and Karolinska Institute National Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention of Mental III-Health (Sweden)
Project manager: Merike Sisask

Description: The project aims to create cooperation between research based institutions and society oriented organizations which are focused on exchange of knowledge and experience in identification and assessment of the risk of suicide as well as development of learning material guidelines and education programs for keypersons in partner countries such as teachers, social pedagogues, social workers, politicians and parents to develop interactive exchange platform for the dissemination of guidelines and recommendations for various community groups.

Info about remote training course for suicide prevention is available HERE

Health Promotion Station – Trainings for Communities

Duration: 01.07.2014-30.12.2015
Funded by: Norwegian Financial Mechanism, Public Health Programme 2009-2014
Project manager: Marju Medar
Project team from Tallinn University: Institute of Social Work, Institute of Communication, Institute of Ecology, Institute of Sports and Health, TLU Haapsalu College (health promotion specialists).
Project experts: academic staff members from NTNU (Norway), ELTE (Hungary), experts from Estonian-Swedish Mental Health and Suicidology Institute (ERSI), health-promotion experts from Finland.

The purpose of the project is to estabilish and implement the training program which supports the estabilishment of mentally and physically healthy environment in communities through training the key specialists in communities to implement preventive interventions.

The training will be implemented in 2 stages:
– Training for trainers (30 experts who already have experiences in the health promotion field and who will be the trainers for the key specialists in communities will be trained)
– Training for specialists (450 key persons in communities who will implement the training knowledge in Estonian local governments / municipalities)

Additional information about the project is available at terviseilmajaam.hk.tlu.ee/about-the-project/

AppsTerv – Web-based applications for mental health

Duration: 2014-2015
Funded by: Norwegian Financial Mechanism, Public Health Programme 2009-2014
Programme Operator: Ministry of Social Affairs of Estonia
Project manager: Joosep Vaikma (since Aug 2015), Lauraliisa Mark (2014-July 2015)

The main objective of the project is to increase the awareness about mental health and to improve the quality of web-based information channels and the level and range of counselling services. For meeting the objective:

• a new web portal in Estonian and Russian language will be created, which will be mainly targeted at young people (14-26 years old), parents and professionals. The web portal will congregate a target group specific information on mental health and there will be shortcuts to trustable web-based counselling centres;
• web-based counselling centres „Sa ei ole üksi“ (in Estonian and Russian languages) and „Lahedus.net“ (in Estonian language) will be further developed;
• an alcohol thematic informative webpage www.alkoinfo.ee (in Estonian and Russian languages) for young people will be developed;
• guidelines and quality standards for web counsellors to improve and adjust their professional level, in addition to regular training and supervisions, will be developed;
• smartphone apllications with self-help functionality to improve one´s mental health will be developed.

Web-based applications will increase the availability of mental health services due to their cost -effective nature and independence of the service user’s geographical location, transport connections and life arrangement. Along with the main activities of the project, an extensive dissemination activities (press releases, articles, television, radio, metier lists etc) and outcome evaluation (usage statistics of the web portal, focus group interviews, the number of counselled persons, number of media editions etc.) will take place.

The expected outcome of the project is increased awareness about mental health and better availability and higher frequency of use of high-quality web-based self-help and web-based counselling services.

Project coordinator: Estonian-Swedish Mental Health and Suicidology Institute (ERSI)
Project partners: Avitus NGO, Arkimedes Ltd. (Norway),  National Institute for Health Development, ERSI Clinic (Nõmme Health Clinic), Lahendus.net

Project website: enesetunne.ee

Mental health and well-being (MH-WB)

Duration:01.02.2013–31.01.2016
Funding: 16 260 EUR
Principal investigator: Airi Värnik
Funder: European Commission
Institution: Estonian-Swedish Mental Health and Suicidology Institute

The main objective of this joint action is to contribute to the promotion of mental health and well-being, the prevention of mental disorders and the improvement of care and social inclusion of people with mental disorders in Europe. This objective will be attained by establishing a process for structured collaborative work on mental health and well-being involving Member States, stakeholders in the health and other relevant sectors, and international organizations, in particular the WHO and the OECD, leading to the development of a common endorsed framework for action addressing issues related to a) promotion of mental health at the workplace and schools; b) promoting action against depression and suicide; c) developing community mental health care; and d) promoting the integration of mental health in all policies.

ACTION FOR HEALTH (AFH), EC public health project

Reducing Health Inequalities: Preparation for Action Plans and Structural Funds

Coordinator: Institute of Public Health Murska Sobota (Slovenia)
Supervisor: Tatjana Krajnc-Nikolić
National coordinator: Airi Värnik
Project manager: Jing Wu
Duration: 2012-2014
Funded by: Executive Agency for Health and Consumers, EU Health Programme 2008-2013 (Grant Agreement No 20111205), Ministry of Social Affairs

Description: General objective of the ACTION-FOR-HEALTH project is to improve health and quality of life of citizens by tackling health inequalities by means of health promotion. This will be reached by increasing the capacity of stakeholders within European regions to use health promotion interventions to effectively tackle health inequalities as a core part of action plans that access Structural Funds.

Project website: action-for-health.eu

PREDI-NU, EC public health project

Preventing Depression and Improving Awareness through Networking in the EU

Coordinator: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy at the University Hospital of Leipzig (Germany)
Supervisor: Prof Dr Ulrich Hegerl
National coordinator: Prof Dr Airi Värnik
Project manager: Mari Jushkin (since 2012), Henrik Dobewall (2011)
Duration: 2011-2014
Funded by: Executive Agency for Health and Consumers (EAHC), EU Health Programme 2008-2013 (Grant Agreement No 20101214), Ministry of Social Affairs

Description: PREDI-NU is a programme which contributes to the promotion of mental health and the  prevention of depression among European teenagers and young adults with the aim of promoting mental health and preventing depression and suicidality through information and communication technologies. Within the frames of the programme, an internet-based guided self-management tool offering psychological help will be developed for young people and adults with mild to moderate depression for supporting their healing process. Also, it is intended to raise awareness about depression among specialists working with young people and adults, for improving early noticing of depression, thus making it possible to quickly provide needed help for people with depression.

• PREDI-NU News Bulletin, September 2013
• PREDI-NU News Bulletin, September 2012

Project website: predi-nu.eu

SUPREME, EC public health project

Suicide Prevention by Internet and Media Based Mental Health Promotion

Coordinator: NASP, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm (Sweden)
Supervisor: Prof Dr Danuta Wasserman
National coordinator: Prof Dr Airi Värnik
Project manager: Airi Mitendorf (since 2011), Lauraliisa Mark (2010-2011)
Duration: 2010-2013
Funded by: Executive Agency for Health and Consumers, EU Health Programme 2008-2013 (Grant Agreement No 20091219), Ministry of Social Affairs
Description: General objective of the SUPREME project is to organize a partnership of expert organizations for the development of an internet and media based, multi-language, culturally adapted, mental health promotion and suicide prevention interventions. The intervention will comprise a highly interactive website and a media campaign targeted at adolescents and young adults in the age group 14-24. On the basis of the results guidelines will be issued for best practices in the field of internet and media usage for mental health promotion interventions.

The SUPREME project is located at Supremebook.org

Project website: supreme-project.org

WE-STAY, EC 7FP project

Working in Europe to Stop Truancy Among Youth

Coordinator: NASP, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm (Sweden)
Supervisor: Prof Dr Danuta Wasserman
National coordinator: Prof Dr Airi Värnik
Project manager: Mari Jushkin (intervention), Merike Sisask (administrative and financial issues), Peeter Värnik (database management)
Duration: 2010-2013
Funded by: EC 7th Framework Programme (Grant Agreement No 241542), Ministry of Social Affairs

Description: WE-STAY general objectives are: (1) to gather information on truancy on European adolescents, (2) to perform 3 intervention school-based programmes for adolescents, with objectives to reduce truancy rates and improve mental health of students, (3) to evaluate outcomes of all interventions, in comparison with a control group, from a multidisciplinary perspective including social, psychological and economical aspects, and (4) to recommend effective, culturally adjusted models for preventing truancy and promoting mental health of adolescents in different European countries.

Project website: we-stay.eu

MHPHands, EC public health project

Mental Health Promotion Handbooks

Coordinator: Work Research Centre (Ireland)
Supervisor: Dr Richard Wynne
National coordinator: Merike Sisask
Project manager: Airi Mitendorf (since 2011), Zrinka Laido (2010-2011)
Duration: 2010-2013
Funded by: Executive Agency for Health and Consumers, EU Health Programme 2008-2013 (Grant Agreement No 20091213), Ministry of Social Affairs

Description: ProMenPol follow-up. The project will develop 3 manuals for mental health promotion in 7 languages, one each for the schools, workplace and older people’s living environments settings (latter includes residences but also services delivered at home). It will also develop face-to-face and e-learning training related to these manuals. The project will then test these training courses in each of the settings with the appropriate target groups.

Project website: mentalhealthpromotion.net

T-MHP, EC Leonardo da Vinci project  

Training for Mental Health Promotion

Coordinator: Work Research Centre (Ireland)
Supervisor: Dr Richard Wynne
National coordinator: Merike Sisask
Project manager: Zrinka Laido
Duration: 2009-2011
Funded by: EC DG Education and Culture, Leonardo da Vinci – Transfer of Innovation (Grant Agreement No 2009 [LLP/LdV/TOI/2009/IRL-502), Ministry of Social Affairs

Description: ProMenPol follow-up. This project aims to equip teachers, HR professionals and care workers to understand the factors that are critical to life span mental health maintenance and promotion in schools, workplaces and older people’s services and to initiate, implement and monitor policy and programme development within their organisations.

Project website: mentalhealthpromotion.net

SEYLE, EC 7FP project

Saving and Empowering Young Lives in Europe

Coordinator: NASP, Karolinska Instituut, Stockholm (Sweden)
Supervisor: Prof Dr Danuta Wasserman
National coordinator: Prof Dr Airi Värnik
Project managers: Mari Jushkin (intervention), Merike Sisask (administrative and financial issues), Peeter Värnik (database management)
Duration: 2009-2011
Funded by: EC 7th Framework Programme (Grant Agreement No 223091), Ministry of Social Affairs
Description: SEYLE is a health promoting program for adolescents in European schools. Its main objectives are to lead adolescents to better health through decreased risk-taking and suicidal behaviours, to evaluate outcomes of different preventive programs and to recommend effective culturally adjusted models for promoting health of adolescents in different European countries.
Prevention programs (or intervention models) to be tested within SEYLE are:

1. General health promotion by raising awareness in schoolchildren (Awareness)
2. Educating teachers and other school personnel (QPR: Question, Persuade & Refer)
3. Identifying children in risk and referring them to the mental health specialist for consultation (ProfScreen)
4. Information leaflet for control group (Information)

Project website: seyle.org

OSPI-Europe, EC 7FP project

Optimised suicide prevention programs and their implementation in Europe

Coordinator: University of Leipzig, Department of Psychiatry (Germany)
Supervisor: Prof Dr Ulrich Hegerl
National coordinator: Prof Dr Airi Värnik
Project manager: Merike Sisask
Duration: 2008-2012
Funded by: EC 7th Framework Programme (Grant Agreement No 223138), Ministry of Social Affairs

Description: The main aim of the OSPI-Europe is to provide health politicians, stakeholders and the European Commission with an evidence based and efficient concept for suicide prevention with corresponding materials and instruments for multifaceted intervention, as well as guidelines for the implmentation process.

Project website: ospi-europe.com

ROAMER

ROAMER is a project funded by the European Commission under the Seventh Framework Programme, 2007-2013, n° 282586.

The project aims to create a coordinated road map for the promotion and integration of mental health and well-being research across Europe. The project is divided into several work packages that focus on different areas and aspects of mental health research. Airi Värnik was invited to join the team of mental health experts of work package 7 – public health research targeting mental health.

Project website: roamer-mh.org

ProMenPol, EK 6RP projekt

Promoting and protecting mental health – supporting policy through integration of research, current approaches and practice

Coordinator: Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (FIOSH), Dortmund (Germany)
Supervisor: Dr Karl Kuhn
National coordinator: Merike Sisask (since 2008), Prof Dr Airi Värnik (2007-2008)
Project managers: Lauraliisa Heidmets (since 2008), Merike Sisask (2007-2008)
Duration: 2007-2009
Funded by: EC 6th Framework Programme (Grant Agreement No 044406), Ministry of Social Affairs
Description: Promoting and protecting mental health – supporting policy through integration of research, current approaches and practice. Tools for mental health promotion and protection in three settings – schools, workplaces and residential homes.

Project website: mentalhealthpromotion.net

MONSUE, EC public health project

Coordinator: Würzburg University Clinics
Supervisor: Prof Dr Armin Schmidtke
National coordinator: Prof Dr Airi Värnik
Project manager: Zrinka Laido (since 2008), Kairi Kõlves (2005-2008)
Duration: 2005-2011
Funded by: EC (Grant Agreement No 2003135), Council of Gambling Tax, Ministry of Social Affairs

Description: Monitoring of Suicide attempts, continuation of WHO/Euro Multicentre Study on Parasuicide, started in 1995. 15 European countries (19 centers) with defined catchment area are involved, one of them Estonia – Tallinn Centre. The objective of the study is to get evidence-based data about parasuicides and to reduce morbidity and mortality caused by parasuicides, to promote suicide prevention and to improve the quality of treatment.