WP11. Translation into roadmaps

Evidence exists that research in mental health does not achieve the necessary level of investment that would match the current burden of ill health at the individual and community level. As long as future investment in research across Europe is uncertain it is vital to identify a strategic approach to manage scarce resources for research in the major areas of mental health and well-being. Current approaches to mental health research are based on individual member countries’ strategies, where they exist.
Therefore, an overall roadmap for the promotion and integration of mental health and well-being research across Europe and applicable across the life span is needed. Such a roadmap will not only assist in targeting research towards tractable research issues that can be addressed realistically and with good confidence of programs that can be cost-effective, but also in collecting evidence that will lead social and health policies indicating the most beneficial changes to be implemented across the lifespan.

Coordination in the different tracks of the project will be realized by bringing together and harmonizing the different roadmaps. The aim is to identify key issues to be considered and to integrate them as they apply across life time, communities, countries and disciplines, taking into account views and needs expressed by all stakeholders and end users of research results. This process will be facilitated by the methodologies already developed and used to identify research gaps and solutions. Translation from individual roadmaps to a final overall Roadmap, that will include priority setting, will also be based on a range of additional methodologies that will be used through iterative stages of drafting, stakeholder and other expert review and input and redrafting. These will include web-surveys among users and health and social care professionals to augment the input from partners and stakeholders.

• To map the current state of roadmaps in key areas related to mental health research in Europe
• To identify gaps and advances in roadmap methodologies and solutions to challenges
• To identify the process of making the final priorities on gaps and advances in mental health research across the spectrum of mental health disorders, public health and well-being
• To develop a roadmap to provide novel solutions to key important and tractable research questions to improve the mental health and well-being of people in Europe

Prof. Til Wykes

Prof. Shôn Lewis