Introduction

 

 

 
The importance of mental health as a major source of diseases
is increasingly recognised in the world.
 
However, the information on the distribution of mental disorders,
their determinants and their social and economic consequences,
as well as the possibilities to prevent them, are still limited in Europe.
 
Consequently, mental health policy information research is insufficiently
based on the most accurate and up-to-date scientific evidence.
 

 
 
The aim of FREMED has been to qualitatively and quantitatively improve the mental health policy information in Europe through a better understanding of mental health burden, determinants, and services needs.
 
 
Ø       The FREMED project involved a large group of experts already collaborating together in the World Mental Health Survey Initiative and it was translated into a substantial increase in scientific publications, an improvement of dissemination practices, and more well-trained personnel.
 
Ø       It maximised the production of policy relevant information of the recently completed ESEMeD/MHEDEA project, the most comprehensive mental health study ever conducted in the general population in Europe, funded by the EU Commission.
 
This survey contains detailed data on prevalence, risk factors, burden, and service
use of individuals with mental disorders in six European countries (Belgium, France,
Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Spain) representing about 213 million adult
and elderly Europeans.
 
Ø       Effective dissemination strategies were implemented for different key audiences:
o        scientific community through participation in international conferences and publication of scientific articles in reference journals in the field of mental health (68 manuscripts published, 27 of which in local languages: 9 in Spanish, 7 in French, 6 in Dutch, 4 in German, 1 in Italian)
o        policy-makers through organization of meetings and focus groups
o        civil society through media coverage of citizen-friendly information
 
Ø       A formal evaluation of these dissemination activities has been performed (in this website, for example, all published articles are cited together with their Impact Factor).
 
Ø       The FREMED project contributed to the consolidation of a larger, multidisciplinary European mental health policy information research network that will be beneficial for the needed dialogue between all stakeholders in mental health policy in Europe.
Within the FREMED group this was also promoted through the implementation of an active plan of training and mobility.

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