JA PRISM – Joint Action in Prevention oriented RIghts-based approach to Support Mental health in vulnerable population groups
JA PRISM (Joint Action in Prevention oriented RIghts-based approach to Support Mental health in vulnerable population groups) aims to reduce the burden of mental ill health among vulnerable groups by promoting ways to obtain and maintain a good mental health, preventing mental health problems, and improving access to treatment and services across the EU and Associated Countries. This will be achieved through the transfer and roll-out of three best and promising practices with clear human rights approaches into new contexts. These practices target vulnerable groups in three key areas: suicide prevention, loneliness in the elderly, and emotional well-being in children and young people. By implementing these interventions, the initiative seeks to improve mental health and quality of life for vulnerable populations, leading to increased access to care and measurable improvements in well-being.
JA PRISM will facilitate the implementation of the three practices with a clear human rights approach. The three practices to be transferred are:
- The BIZI Program (focused on suicide prevention);
- Circle of Friends (addressing loneliness in elderly);
- Act, Belong, Commit (fostering emotional wellbeing in children and young people).
In this project 60 organisations from 20 European countries are working together to improve mental health in vulnerable groups.
The NOVA National School of Public Health (NOVA NSPH) will implement two of these practices directed at combating loneliness among older people (Circle of Friends) and promoting the emotional well-being of children and young people (ABC – Act, Belong, Commit).
This joint action aims to increase awareness and knowledge of human-rights-based approaches, strengthen the empowerment and quality of life of vulnerable and socioeconomically disadvantaged groups, and redesign public health services and policymaking by steering them towards a comprehensive, prevention-centred mental health approach.
JA PRISM has been granted €6 million by the EU4Health programme and run from September 2025 to August 2028 coordinated by Biosistemak, Bilbao, Spain.
For more information visit the project website: https://japrism.eu/
PROJECT TEAM
- Sónia Dias
- Maria João Marques
- Ana Gama
JA PRISM is (co-)funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or HaDEA. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
