Biosistemak participates in the Mental Health Policy Event
Researcher Nerea González presented the UPRIGHT project, led at European level by our institute, on youth mental promotion.
Our institute actively contributed to the Policy Event on Mental Health: R&I to promote mental health and prevent/treat mental disorders, held in Brussels on 18 February at the European University Foundation. Organised by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Research and Innovation ,the event brought together key stakeholders to discuss how research and innovation can drive mental health policies and solutions across Europe.
Irene Norstedt, Head of People Directorate, DG Research and Innovation of the European Commission, opened the event by highlighting the crucial role of research and innovation in addressing mental health challenges and improving the well-being of the European population.
Special mention to the UPRIGHT project led from the Basque Country
Nerea González Hernández, representing Biosistemak, participated in the session dedicated to improving the mental health of children and young people. She presented the UPRIGHT project, coordinated at European level by Biosistemak and finalised in 2021, whose objective was to promote the mental health of adolescents through a universal preventive intervention of resilience implemented in educational centres.
During her speech, Nerea highlighted the success of the project, which is the result of a process of co-creation with end users: teenagers, families and teachers. She highlighted the wide scope of the programme, with materials translated into seven languages and available on demand. She also mentioned how the Basque Government has incorporated elements of UPRIGHT in teacher training and in the Bizikasi programme, as well as the interest shown by several schools in using the materials.
Promoting cross-sectoral collaboration in Europe
The event addressed topics such as psychosocial risks at work, promoting resilience and mental wellbeing in the health workforce, and the role of arts and culture in wellbeing and inclusion. The need for cross-sectoral collaboration, evidence-based solutions and integrated approaches to improve mental health in Europe was highlighted.
Biosistemak’s participation in this event reflects its commitment to advancing mental health research and promoting effective interventions to improve the lives of individuals and communities.
Coordination at European level of the UPRIGHT project
Biosistemak played a key role in UPRIGHT, acting as European coordinator and leading several work packages. The project included a co-creation process with schools in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Araba, and counted with the active participation of mental health professionals from Osakidetza, who contributed to the piloting in Euskadi, the revision of the content and the training of teachers.
The pilot project in the Basque Country involved six schools, with the participation of 777 adolescents, 65 families and 120 teaching staff. The research team was made up of professionals from Osakidetza, Biosistemak and the Berritzegune in Vitoria-Gasteiz.
