NEWS & EVENTS
News
03.02.2026
From Dialogue to Action
Recent Synergy Activities and Future Collaboration Opportunities within MiMIND
Promoting mental health among migrants, refugees, and other vulnerable groups is a complex challenge that can only be addressed effectively through coordinated, multi-actor cooperation. From the early stages of implementation, the MiMIND project has therefore actively built partnerships with European initiatives whose thematic focus, target groups, or methodological approaches complement and strengthen its own work.
These collaborations ensure that MiMIND does not operate as a stand-alone project, but as part of a broader European professional and policy ecosystem. Through structured cooperation, joint reflection, and continuous knowledge exchange, the collaborating projects align their approaches, reinforce each other’s activities, and generate added value that goes beyond individual project results.
One of MiMIND’s key strategic partners is the Joint Action Mental Health Together – MENTOR, which operates at European level to promote mental health, embed good practices into health systems, and advance the Mental Health in All Policies approach. Close cooperation between the two initiatives enables experiences from MiMIND’s community-level interventions to inform European policy and methodological frameworks, while guidance and recommendations developed within MENTOR strengthen MiMIND’s practical implementation and long-term sustainability.
In parallel, MiMIND collaborates with several Action Grant projects funded under the EU4Health Programme, each addressing mental health promotion and prevention from a distinct but complementary perspective.
The Migration in Mind (MinM) project focuses on improving access to mental health and psychosocial support for people with migration experience, with a strong emphasis on culturally sensitive tools and professional guidance. Cooperation between MiMIND and MinM enables mutual enrichment of methodological resources, particularly in the areas of mental health assessment, promotion, and professional capacity building.
The EASE-Y project aims to strengthen the mental health and emotional resilience of early adolescents, with special attention to migrant, refugee, and socially disadvantaged children. For MiMIND, this partnership creates important links to school-based, family-centred, and community-level interventions, and supports the integration of youth-focused mental health approaches into its broader framework of good practices.
The SASTIPE project seeks to improve access to quality mental health services for Roma communities. This collaboration is particularly relevant for MiMIND’s equity-oriented approach and its commitment to reaching marginalised populations. Through shared learning, the projects exchange experiences related to community-based outreach, stigma reduction, and the involvement of local actors in mental health promotion.
Mind the Mum addresses perinatal mental health by focusing on the emotional well-being of mothers and strengthening the capacity of professionals working with families. For MiMIND, this partnership reinforces a life-course and family-centred perspective within integration services and highlights the importance of addressing mental health needs early and preventively.
The MentBox initiative focuses on developing modular tools to address depression, suicide, and non-clinical mental distress, placing strong emphasis on the voices of people with lived experience. Cooperation with MiMIND supports the exchange of practical insights from different national contexts and contributes to the development of flexible, adaptable mental health solutions tailored to vulnerable groups.
The ReCiHePe – Resilient Cities, Healthy People project explores innovative ways to promote mental health in urban settings, with a particular focus on community initiatives and peer support. This approach closely aligns with MiMIND’s community-based perspective and reinforces the role of local social networks in strengthening mental well-being.
Finally, the ABC Mental Health project builds on the Act–Belong–Commit model, highlighting how everyday actions and social participation can support positive mental health. For MiMIND, this collaboration offers valuable insights into low-threshold, community-level prevention approaches that are accessible to diverse populations and easily adaptable across contexts.
Together, these partnerships embed MiMIND’s activities in a wider European landscape of cooperation and shared learning. Through continuous dialogue, aligned implementation, and mutual reinforcement, the collaborating projects not only strengthen each other’s work but also contribute to a coherent European knowledge base that supports inclusive, sustainable, and equity-oriented mental health promotion for vulnerable groups across Europe.
In the early phase, project partners undertook extensive country-level and international mapping of existing good practices and available tools. They reviewed methods and resources previously applied in similar or related projects, drawing conclusions on their effectiveness and relevance. This process of brainstorming, synthesis, and critical reflection has been essential in determining which practices can be transferred, which require adaptation, and which need updating. The outcome of this work is the development of the Code of Good Practice, which guides and underpin the pilot activities in the member countries. This core document ensures that tested, evidence-informed strategies and practical tools are available to professionals working in integration services, thereby strengthening their capacity to support the mental health of displaced populations effectively.
03.02.2026
Shared Goals, Aligned Solutions
MiMIND’s Cooperation with European Mental Health Projects
Promoting mental health among migrants, refugees, and other vulnerable groups is a complex challenge that can only be addressed effectively through coordinated, multi-actor cooperation. From the early stages of implementation, the MiMIND project has therefore actively built partnerships with European initiatives whose thematic focus, target groups, or methodological approaches complement and strengthen its own work.
These collaborations ensure that MiMIND does not operate as a stand-alone project, but as part of a broader European professional and policy ecosystem. Through structured cooperation, joint reflection, and continuous knowledge exchange, the collaborating projects align their approaches, reinforce each other’s activities, and generate added value that goes beyond individual project results.
One of MiMIND’s key strategic partners is the Joint Action Mental Health Together – MENTOR, which operates at European level to promote mental health, embed good practices into health systems, and advance the Mental Health in All Policies approach. Close cooperation between the two initiatives enables experiences from MiMIND’s community-level interventions to inform European policy and methodological frameworks, while guidance and recommendations developed within MENTOR strengthen MiMIND’s practical implementation and long-term sustainability.
In parallel, MiMIND collaborates with several Action Grant projects funded under the EU4Health Programme, each addressing mental health promotion and prevention from a distinct but complementary perspective.
The Migration in Mind (MinM) project focuses on improving access to mental health and psychosocial support for people with migration experience, with a strong emphasis on culturally sensitive tools and professional guidance. Cooperation between MiMIND and MinM enables mutual enrichment of methodological resources, particularly in the areas of mental health assessment, promotion, and professional capacity building.
The EASE-Y project aims to strengthen the mental health and emotional resilience of early adolescents, with special attention to migrant, refugee, and socially disadvantaged children. For MiMIND, this partnership creates important links to school-based, family-centred, and community-level interventions, and supports the integration of youth-focused mental health approaches into its broader framework of good practices.
The SASTIPE project seeks to improve access to quality mental health services for Roma communities. This collaboration is particularly relevant for MiMIND’s equity-oriented approach and its commitment to reaching marginalised populations. Through shared learning, the projects exchange experiences related to community-based outreach, stigma reduction, and the involvement of local actors in mental health promotion.
Mind the Mum addresses perinatal mental health by focusing on the emotional well-being of mothers and strengthening the capacity of professionals working with families. For MiMIND, this partnership reinforces a life-course and family-centred perspective within integration services and highlights the importance of addressing mental health needs early and preventively.
The MentBox initiative focuses on developing modular tools to address depression, suicide, and non-clinical mental distress, placing strong emphasis on the voices of people with lived experience. Cooperation with MiMIND supports the exchange of practical insights from different national contexts and contributes to the development of flexible, adaptable mental health solutions tailored to vulnerable groups.
The ReCiHePe – Resilient Cities, Healthy People project explores innovative ways to promote mental health in urban settings, with a particular focus on community initiatives and peer support. This approach closely aligns with MiMIND’s community-based perspective and reinforces the role of local social networks in strengthening mental well-being.
Finally, the ABC Mental Health project builds on the Act–Belong–Commit model, highlighting how everyday actions and social participation can support positive mental health. For MiMIND, this collaboration offers valuable insights into low-threshold, community-level prevention approaches that are accessible to diverse populations and easily adaptable across contexts.
Together, these partnerships embed MiMIND’s activities in a wider European landscape of cooperation and shared learning. Through continuous dialogue, aligned implementation, and mutual reinforcement, the collaborating projects not only strengthen each other’s work but also contribute to a coherent European knowledge base that supports inclusive, sustainable, and equity-oriented mental health promotion for vulnerable groups across Europe.
In the early phase, project partners undertook extensive country-level and international mapping of existing good practices and available tools. They reviewed methods and resources previously applied in similar or related projects, drawing conclusions on their effectiveness and relevance. This process of brainstorming, synthesis, and critical reflection has been essential in determining which practices can be transferred, which require adaptation, and which need updating. The outcome of this work is the development of the Code of Good Practice, which guides and underpin the pilot activities in the member countries. This core document ensures that tested, evidence-informed strategies and practical tools are available to professionals working in integration services, thereby strengthening their capacity to support the mental health of displaced populations effectively.
03.02.2026
Building Stronger Impact Through Synergies
How MiMIND Contributes to Coordinated EU Mental Health Action
Improving mental health outcomes for migrants, refugees, and other vulnerable groups requires more than isolated project activities. It calls for coordinated action across sectors, countries, and policy levels. For the MiMIND project, building and strengthening synergies with other EU-funded initiatives is therefore not an additional task, but a core strategic approach embedded in its implementation.
In the early phase, project partners undertook extensive country-level and international mapping of existing good practices and available tools. They reviewed methods and resources previously applied in similar or related projects, drawing conclusions on their effectiveness and relevance. This process of brainstorming, synthesis, and critical reflection has been essential in determining which practices can be transferred, which require adaptation, and which need updating. The outcome of this work is the development of the Code of Good Practice, which guides and underpin the pilot activities in the member countries. This core document ensures that tested, evidence-informed strategies and practical tools are available to professionals working in integration services, thereby strengthening their capacity to support the mental health of displaced populations effectively.
Upcoming Events
Past Events
11.11.2025
Mapping, Evaluation, and Adaptation of Best Practices on Mental Health Promotion and Assessment for Migrants, Refugees, and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs)
Code of Good Practice Development (D2.2)
MIMIND aims to promote mental well-being and prevent mental health issues among migrants, refugees, and internally displaced people (IDPs) from Ukraine by supporting integration services such as healthcare, social care, education, and employment. The project, involving five partners from three countries, collects, adapts, and applies EU and global best practices on mental health assessment and promotion. These best practices are being incorporated into Codes of Good Practice, which serve as core methodological documents for pilot programmes implemented by HCSOM (HU), SAMR (RO), and FMC (UA). The pilots focus on family-based, school, and healthcare interventions to promote mental health and prevent mental health problems in these key integration settings. The Hungarian pilot addresses on family-based psychosocial interventions, the Romanian pilot targets the mental health of refugee children in schools, and the Ukrainian pilot focuses on GPs in primary healthcare. The search for and analysis of good practices is carried out along these thematic areas.
MiMIND is funded under the EU4Health Programme and runs in parallel with the Joint Action Mental Health Together – MENTOR and several Action Grant projects addressing complementary aspects of mental health promotion and prevention. From the outset, MiMIND has aligned its work with the European Commission’s expectation that EU-funded actions should reinforce one another, ensuring coherence, efficiency, and long-term impact.
Mental health challenges linked to migration and displacement are complex and multidimensional. They are shaped not only by individual experiences of trauma or stress, but also by access to healthcare, social support, education, employment, and community networks in host societies. Addressing these interconnected factors effectively requires collaboration across disciplines and policy domains. Synergy-building enables projects to work towards shared objectives, connect different levels of intervention, and translate local experiences into broader systemic change.
Within this framework, MiMIND’s synergy activities focus on linking community-based practice with European-level policy and methodological development. The project actively promotes cooperation with partner initiatives through structured coordination mechanisms, joint meetings, and thematic exchanges. This collaborative approach ensures that MiMIND’s interventions are informed by the latest evidence, policy guidance, and methodological tools developed at EU level, while at the same time contributing concrete field experience to shared learning processes.
A defining feature of MiMIND’s approach is the two-way flow of knowledge. Insights generated through joint actions and parallel projects help shape MiMIND’s Codes of Good Practice and pilot interventions, particularly in relation to culturally sensitive mental health promotion and integration support. At the same time, lessons learned from MiMIND’s implementation in Hungary, Romania, and Ukraine provide valuable input for European discussions on prevention, mental health promotion, and equity-oriented service design.
Synergies are also reflected in coordinated communication and dissemination efforts. By aligning outreach activities and sharing information across project platforms, MiMIND and its partners increase the visibility of their work and reach a broader audience of policymakers, professionals, and civil society actors. This coordinated approach supports the transfer and potential scale-up of effective practices, while avoiding fragmented or duplicated messaging.
Beyond immediate implementation benefits, synergy-building plays a crucial role in sustainability. While MiMIND tests and refines approaches at local and national levels, its collaboration with larger joint actions supports the integration of successful practices into longer-term strategies and policy frameworks. This creates a continuous feedback loop in which practice informs policy and policy, in turn, strengthens practice—enhancing the likelihood that project results remain relevant and impactful beyond the funding period.
Through its commitment to synergy-building, MiMIND contributes to a more coherent and coordinated European response to mental health challenges related to migration and displacement. The project demonstrates how structured collaboration among EU-funded initiatives can amplify impact, strengthen policy coherence, and support the development of more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable mental health systems across Europe.
Improving mental health outcomes for migrants, refugees, and other vulnerable groups requires more than isolated project activities. It calls for coordinated action across sectors, countries, and policy levels. For the MiMIND project, building and strengthening synergies with other EU-funded initiatives is therefore not an additional task, but a core strategic approach embedded in its implementation.
MiMIND is funded under the EU4Health Programme and runs in parallel with the Joint Action Mental Health Together – MENTOR and several Action Grant projects addressing complementary aspects of mental health promotion and prevention. From the outset, MiMIND has aligned its work with the European Commission’s expectation that EU-funded actions should reinforce one another, ensuring coherence, efficiency, and long-term impact.
Mental health challenges linked to migration and displacement are complex and multidimensional. They are shaped not only by individual experiences of trauma or stress, but also by access to healthcare, social support, education, employment, and community networks in host societies. Addressing these interconnected factors effectively requires collaboration across disciplines and policy domains. Synergy-building enables projects to work towards shared objectives, connect different levels of intervention, and translate local experiences into broader systemic change.
Within this framework, MiMIND’s synergy activities focus on linking community-based practice with European-level policy and methodological development. The project actively promotes cooperation with partner initiatives through structured coordination mechanisms, joint meetings, and thematic exchanges. This collaborative approach ensures that MiMIND’s interventions are informed by the latest evidence, policy guidance, and methodological tools developed at EU level, while at the same time contributing concrete field experience to shared learning processes.
A defining feature of MiMIND’s approach is the two-way flow of knowledge. Insights generated through joint actions and parallel projects help shape MiMIND’s Codes of Good Practice and pilot interventions, particularly in relation to culturally sensitive mental health promotion and integration support. At the same time, lessons learned from MiMIND’s implementation in Hungary, Romania, and Ukraine provide valuable input for European discussions on prevention, mental health promotion, and equity-oriented service design.
Synergies are also reflected in coordinated communication and dissemination efforts. By aligning outreach activities and sharing information across project platforms, MiMIND and its partners increase the visibility of their work and reach a broader audience of policymakers, professionals, and civil society actors. This coordinated approach supports the transfer and potential scale-up of effective practices, while avoiding fragmented or duplicated messaging.
Beyond immediate implementation benefits, synergy-building plays a crucial role in sustainability. While MiMIND tests and refines approaches at local and national levels, its collaboration with larger joint actions supports the integration of successful practices into longer-term strategies and policy frameworks. This creates a continuous feedback loop in which practice informs policy and policy, in turn, strengthens practice—enhancing the likelihood that project results remain relevant and impactful beyond the funding period.
Through its commitment to synergy-building, MiMIND contributes to a more coherent and coordinated European response to mental health challenges related to migration and displacement. The project demonstrates how structured collaboration among EU-funded initiatives can amplify impact, strengthen policy coherence, and support the development of more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable mental health systems across Europe.
26.05.2025
Article Recommendation
The study by Sarah E. Bjornson and Adrienne Perry, published in January 2025, explores the relationship between satisfaction with the school environment and the quality of life of children with severe developmental disabilities and their families. The research involved 171 Canadian parents and aimed to identify the key factors that most significantly influence the quality of life for both the children and their families.
The findings indicate that quality of life is not only shaped by the type of diagnosis, the coping strategies of the parents, or the natural support networks surrounding the family, but is also strongly influenced by satisfaction with the school. In fact, school satisfaction emerged as one of the strongest predictors of quality of life, highlighting the critical role of the educational environment.
Interestingly, the study found no significant correlation between the specific type of educational setting (mainstream classrooms with or without support, or special education classes) and quality of life. This challenges the assumption that any one form of education or teaching method is automatically better for all children with severe disabilities.
The researchers explored seven themes based on parents’ school-related experiences: emotionally charged personal experiences, school staff, the educational system, type of educational setting, changes over time, inclusion, and learning, achievement, and development. More than half (54.1%) of parental responses reflected negative emotions, indicating considerable challenges.
The study emphasises that it is not merely the availability of services or the form of education that determines parental satisfaction and, in turn, quality of life, but rather the degree to which educational strategies are tailored to individual needs and effectively meet the specific requirements of each child. The same school environment may be highly positive for one family, while deeply frustrating for another – depending entirely on how well it aligns with the child’s unique needs and capabilities.
The authors conclude that there is a pressing need for individualised educational programmes based on the child’s abilities, needs, and personal goals. Close and cooperative partnerships between educators and parents are particularly important in ensuring effective and personalised developmental support. Appropriate school conditions can not only help achieve learning goals but also contribute significantly to the overall well-being of the child and the entire family.
The practical relevance of the study lies in its potential to guide educational professionals in supporting children with severe developmental disabilities. The findings suggest that teacher training, educational practices, and policy development should all place greater emphasis on strengthening individualised approaches and fostering direct collaboration with parents.
05.05.2025
MiMIND Brainstorming Day in Budapest – Partners Prepare for Pilot Phase
On 5 May 2025, partners of the MiMIND project came together in Budapest for an in-person Brainstorming Day focused on shaping the upcoming pilot activities to support the mental health of migrants, refugees, and internally displaced persons (IDPs) during integration.
The event was structured around five interactive stations, guiding participants through discussions on mapping existing competencies, identifying good practices, assessing transferability, exploring feasibility and adaptation needs, and outlining expected outcomes and evaluation tools.
The Ukrainian, Romanian, and Hungarian partners brought diverse strengths and experiences to the table:
- Ukraine showcased extensive expertise in pilot implementation, evaluation tools, clinical literacy, and refugee integration methodologies. They also emphasized the potential for professional exchanges and field visits to foster cross-border learning.
- Romania highlighted their strong infrastructure, established volunteer networks, and mental health expertise at the border. Their school-based programs and partnerships with Ukrainian associations were presented as valuable assets.
- Hungary contributed reflective methodologies and a multidisciplinary team approach, emphasizing the need for training programs and an integration handbook to support mental health across social, educational, and translation services.
- Gamian Europe provided frameworks and insightful material from the perspectives of mental health patients
The brainstorming sessions allowed partners to align priorities, share promising practices, and identify the tools and resources needed for the upcoming pilot phase. A detailed summary and next steps will be shared later this week.
The MiMIND project continues to move forward with its goal: to build inclusive, effective mental health support systems for those rebuilding their lives in new environments.
31.01.2025
Introductory Synergy Meeting: JA MENTOR and Action Grants
The first online synergy meeting took place on 31 January 2025, with representatives from eight Action Grant projects and the JA MENTOR project participating. The speakers presented their projects and shared ideas for cooperation. The half-day meeting was attended by approximately thirty participants, including representatives from the HaDEA Agency and DG SANTE.
- Presentation of the JA MENTOR; Sibilla Neimane – Latvia National Center of Mental Health
- Presentation of MinM (Migration in Mind- Enhancing access to Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) for persons in migration by improving mental health literacy, the quality of care and breaking through stigma; Juliette Delescluse, Julie Cellier – Médecins du Monde
- Presentation of ReCiHePe (Resilient cities, healthy people); Dumitrita Simion – ANIMA
- Presentation of EASE-Y (Promoting mental health wellbeing among vulnerable young adolescents); Sara Salmi, Jessica Colombo – SOS Villaggi dei Bambini Onlus
- Presentation of ABC Mental Health (The ABCs of Mental Health); Carole Ponchon, Hilal Erkoca – ISCA
- Presentation of SASTIPE (TBC Improving access to mental health services for Roma people); Catalina Constantin – NCMHFAD
- Presentation of Mind the Mum (Placing Parental Mental Health and Care to the Forefront); Margarita Kapsou, Eleni Hadjigeorgiou – Birth Forward
- Presentation of MiMIND (Methodology development for migrants’ and refugees’ mental health promotion during integration into a new host environment); Endre Pasztor – Hungarian Charity Service of the Order of Malta
- Presentation of MentBox (Modular Mental Health Toolbox); Carolina Pina – Pia Hauck , European Alliance Against Depression
21.10.2024
MiMIND kick-off meeting on the 21th October 2024 in Budapest
The MiMIND kick-off meeting was held on 21st of October 2024, in Budapest. The meeting opened with a presentation by Dániel Solymári, who discussed the international activities of the Hungarian Charity Service of the Order of Malta related to migrants and refugees. The second speaker, Hülya Okuyan from the HaDEA Agency, provided an overview of the EU4HEALTH program, including general information and expectations.
Next, Endre Pásztor spoke about project management, communication, and dissemination expectations related to the project. He also outlined requirements for establishing synergies with MENTOR joint actions and other EU-funded projects. Kosztadin Tenevszki then gave a presentation on financial accountability. Szilvia Ádám followed with an explanation of the project’s aims, scope, and professional content.
The event continued with presentations from each partner, where they described their organization’s activities and their potential contributions to the project’s success. The meeting concluded with a collaborative workshop.”
Calendar
Date: 05 May 2025
Time: 10:00–14:00
Event: MiMIND BRAINSTORMING DAY
Date: 31 January 2025
Time: 09:00–13:00
Event: Introductory Synergy Meeting: JA MENTOR and Action Grants
Date: 21 October 2024
Time: 10:00–15:00
Event: MiMIND kick-off meeting
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