The aim of EPREMED is to qualitatively and quantitatively improve mental health policy practices and potential in Europe. This is to be achieved by assuring the maximum impact of the recently completed ESEMeD/MHEDEA and other related European studies through analyses, data synthesis and translation, and effective dissemination to the relevant stakeholders. By formal evaluation of the dissemination and through provision of training and mobility, the project aims to help to consolidate a multidisciplinary community better able to address mental health policy information research in Europe. EPREMED builds on a previous successful research collaboration, focuses on the crucial area of mental health (disorders prevalence and burden; risk factors including poverty, immigration and religion; and services utilisation, with emphasis on unmet need for care). This aims to fill a gap in evidence-based European policy making and to feed another PHP project: Euro Health Expectancy Monitoring Unit -EHEMU. Co-ordination with other relevant activities, in particular those under the Public Health Programme, and with the Working Party on Mental Health to be assured.
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The project aims to reduce the frequency of suicide, suicide attempts and the repetition rate of suicide attempts in various European countries, by assessing the magnitude of the problem (monitoring of suicides and suicide attempts), the identification of groups at risk, risk factors, and specific variables (methods, “hot spots”, time variables etc.) which can be influenced to prevent this behaviour. Based on these findings guidelines for prevention of suicides and suicides attempts should be developed, e. g. regulations for access to suicide means, prevention of suicide imitation recommendations for the selling of pharmaceuticals used for suicide attempts, guidelines for secondary and tertiary suicide prevention (treatment of suicide attempters). Through a common assessment, studies of preventive measures in various centres, and the evaluation of such measures in a large number of EU and candidate countries it will be possible to develop such guidelines for suicide prevention.
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The general idea of this project proposal is based on understanding that the new EU countires have to take proective concerted efforts to develop effective approaches of CAMH promotion in the creative process of interaction between different partners within each country, between new members` countries, and also by using rich experience of EU-15 countries.
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Alzheimer Europe (AE) defines its mission as "changing perceptions, practice and policy in order to improve the access of people with dementia and their carers to treatment options and care services". In addition, the organisation has defined its guiding philosophy as "promoting the autonomy and self-determination of people with dementia and their carers throughout the course of the disease".
To achieve its mission and accomplish its vision, Alzheimer Europe has developed four objectives in its strategic plan (2011-2015) which was developed within the framework of its 2010 Operating Grant:
1. Making dementia a European priority through representing the interests of people with dementia, partnering with European institutions and jointly developing policy;
2. supporting policy with facts by improving the information exchange between AE, its members and other stakeholders, by setting up a European Dementia Observatory and by comparing national systems and identifying best practices;
3. basing our actions on ethical principles by understanding ethical principles and approaches, promoting a rights-based approach to dementia and finding common ground and building consensus on ethical issues;
4. building a stronger organisation by supporting and involving national associations, involving people with dementia and their carers, establishing AE conferences as unique networking opportunities, developing strategic partnerships, providing a sound governance structure and diversifying the organisation`s funding.
On the basis of these strategic objectives, Alzheimer Europe develops annual work plans outlining the priority areas and projects of the organisation.
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