Study visit to Helsinki to learn about the ‘Circle of Friends’ best practice
Researchers Sarah Berrocoso and Jone Guenetxea attended the meeting, held on 9 and 10 December at the Finnish Association for the Welfare of Older People.
On 9 and 10 December, Helsinki hosted a new study visit for the European Joint Action PRISM project, focusing on the Circle of Friends best practice, a community intervention designed to reduce unwanted loneliness and strengthen social support networks. The Institute’s researchers, Sarah Berrocoso and Jone Guenetxea, participated in the training sessions given by the Finnish Association for the Welfare of Older People (VTKL), the organisation that created and owns the practice.
The visit provided an opportunity to explore the theoretical foundations, processes and methodology underpinning Circle of Friends, with the aim of facilitating its future transfer to the PRISM pilot countries. Throughout the conference, the VTKL team presented the key elements that guarantee the quality and effectiveness of the practice, as well as the lessons learned from its implementation in Finland. This exchange was essential for understanding how to adapt the intervention to different European contexts, while respecting its community-based and rights-based approach.
A key learning for the transfer of good practices
The study visit is part of the process of transferring good practices promoted by PRISM, a Joint Action funded by the European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA) and coordinated by Biosistemak. The project aims to reduce the burden of mental health problems in vulnerable groups by promoting prevention, equity and access to evidence-based interventions in EU Member States and associated countries.
PRISM will facilitate the implementation of three practices with a clear human rights focus, targeting groups such as children and adolescents, older people, migrants, people with low socioeconomic status, and people with mental health problems. The visit to Helsinki is a fundamental step for the pilot teams to adapt Circle of Friends to their local realities and move towards its deployment.
The strategic role of Biosistemak in PRISM
As the coordinating entity for PRISM, Biosistemak leads the fulfilment of the project’s objectives and contractual obligations with HaDEA, DG SANTE and the European Commission. The Institute provides overall scientific and technical leadership, defines quality standards, coordinates the executive committee and ensures the methodological consistency of the entire Joint Action.
In addition, Biosistemak leads work package 5, which focuses on the transfer of the BIZI programme, a promising practice in suicide prevention recognised by the European Commission. This leadership positions the Basque Country as a European benchmark in the identification of vulnerable groups and the development of innovative methodologies in community mental health.
Following the study visit, the pilot teams continue to work on adapting Circle of Friends to their respective contexts. In the coming months, the piloting of the practice will begin, which will include the training of facilitators, the selection of participants and the launch of the first groups, always with the methodological support of VTKL and the coordination of Biosistemak.
