The NOVA National School of Public Health (NOVA NSPH) is one of the partner institutions in the Joint Action PRISM, a new European initiative aimed at preventing and promoting mental health, strengthening mental health literacy, and reducing psychological distress by ensuring timely access to appropriate care and treatment.
Funded by the EU4Health programme with six million euros and lasting three years, PRISM brings together 59 partners from 20 European countries, including academic institutions, governmental bodies, and civil society organisations. In Portugal, the initiative includes the participation of NOVA NSPH and the National Coordination for Mental Health Policies of the Ministry of Health.
The Joint Action involves the implementation of 61 pilot projects based on the transfer of three innovative practices in the areas of suicide prevention, support for older adults experiencing loneliness, and the promotion of well-being and the reduction of psychosocial risk among children and adolescents. These interventions will be adapted and transferred to different European contexts to improve access to evidence-based activities and services, promote person-centred care, and combat the stigma associated with mental illness.
The kick-off meeting took place on 24–25 September 2025 at the Euskalduna Conference Centre in Bilbao, Spain, bringing together experts, decision-makers, and institutional representatives from across Europe. The event was attended by representatives from the Spanish Ministry of Health, the European Commission, and several international organisations, including the World Health Organization, the Trimbos Institute, ENUSP, the OECD, and UNICEF.
“Projects like PRISM reinforce the importance of European collaboration in the field of mental health and the need to develop integrated, person-centred solutions with real impact on community life”, highlighted Sónia Dias, Director of NOVA NSPH, who attended the kick-off meeting alongside Maria João Marques, researcher at NOVA NSPH.
During the meeting, the strategic objectives and main work packages were presented, along with the best practices to be transferred and implemented across different countries, including the Circle of Friends programme for preventing social isolation, the BIZI programme for suicide prevention, and the ABC programme promoting the well-being and mental health of children and young people.
NOVA NSPH’s participation in this European initiative reflects its ongoing commitment to promoting mental health, reducing inequalities, and developing public policies grounded in scientific evidence.
The Joint Action PRISM is coordinated by the institution Biosistemak, with technical and scientific support from a network of European partners committed to building sustainable pathways towards better mental health across Europe.
