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 workplaces and schools; b) promoting action against depression and suicide; c) developing community mental health care; and (f) promoting the integration of mental health in all policies.

The strategic relevance of the JA and its contribution to the Health Programme is ensured by the attention dedicated to mental health and well-being as a public health area which has in the past not always received a level of priority in proportion with its weight in the burden of disease. It is also ensured by the attention dedicated to the promotion of partnerships at EU level and in Member States between health policies and other public policy areas, namely social, educational and economic policies. The JA will therefore contribute to sustainable development and the Europe 2020 vision of smart, sustainable and productive growth. The JA will create EU added value, because of its contribution to realizing EU policy objectives in public health and other fields.

National and European working groups will evaluate progress made in EU and MS in mental health through SWOT analysis, review of literature, questionnaires, and interviews.
Recommendations for action to improve the effectiveness of mental health policies implementation will be made in collaboration with EU agencies, WHO and other international organizations based on analysis of implementation research and review of literature.
To support engagement and commitment in effective action, a dissemination plan will be developed. Meetings of national and European networks will be used to build consensus and promote engagement. A final JA conference will be organized to support the endorsement of the recommendations by Member States and the EU, and promote their commitment for follow-up actions.
A close collaboration will be established with other European mental health initiatives, and a strategy will be developed to create a structured cooperation in mental health policy in Europe in the future.

1. A more rigorous and comprehensive knowledge on the situation of mental health and well-being in EU countries, particularly on prevention of depression and suicide, development of community based approaches and social inclusion, mental health at the workplace, mental health and schools, and integration of mental health in all policies.
2. Creation of an inventory of existing evidence, best practices and available resources.
3. Strengthening of national and European networks;
4. Recommendations for action;
5. Building capacity of national mental health leaders and other stakeholders in mental health policy development;
6. Endorsement of a framework for action by MS and EU agencies, as well as their commitment for follow-up action;
7. Establishment of a structured cooperation between MH - WB and networks from other European projects, and the creation of mechanisms supporting a structured collaboration between key actors in the implementation of mental health policies in Europe.