HELPS – European Network for Promoting the Health of Residents in Psychiatric and Social Care Institutions (2008-2010)
Funded by
European Commission - DG Health and Consumers
Duration
From 2008 to 2010
Summary
Residents in health and social care institutions for people with mental health problems have a poor physical health status resulting in reduced life expectancy. This is incompatible with the protection of human rights and dignity. There are no specific policies to improve the health status of residents in such care institutions. The aim of this project is to improve the physical health status of residents with mental disorders, mental disability or dependency living in social and health care institutions.
Objectives
- To bring together a multi-disciplinary consortium to gather relevant knowledge in the field and identify best practices across Europe;
- To collect currently fragmented knowledge on the prevalence of major diseases, risk factors of poor physical health, and effective and cost-effective intervention strategies to improve health status in the target population;
- To identify best practice for health promotion in mental health and social care institutions across Europe; criteria for best practice will include evidence of efficacy of physical health interventions and of effectiveness in routine care, cost issues and feasibility of interventions in different contexts across Europe;
- To develop a health promoting tool that will empower residents and staff to identify the most relevant risk factors in their specific context and subsequently select the most appropriate action out of a range of defined health promoting interventions. The tool must be widely acceptable and feasible to impact on policy and practice;
- To disseminate the information gathered in the project, the intervention tool, and the instruction kit to put it to use.
Activities and outcomes
1) International literature reviews.
2) Delphi rounds with experts from participating countries.
3) Focus groups with staff members and residents of mental health care institutions.
Publications and documents
HELPS Flyer in French, in English
Lead organisation
Ulm University, Department of Psychiatry II , Germany
Partners
Medical University of Vienna, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Austria
Mental Health Europe, Belgium
Fondatzia za Choveeshki Otnoshenia, Bulgaria
Psychiatrické centrum Praha / Prague Psychiatric Centre, Czech Republic
Unit for Psychiatric Research, Åalborg Psychiatric Hospital, Aarhus University, Denmark
University of Tartu, Estonia
Universitá degli Studi di Verona, Italy
Vilnius University, Lithuania
Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, Poland
Campulung Moldovenesc Psychiatric Hospital, Romania
Directia de Sanatate Publica Suceava, Romania
Ozara Slovenia Life Quality National Association, Slovenia
Fundació Institut Català de l'Envelliment. Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Spain
Dokuz Eylül Üniversitesi Tip Fakültesi Psykiyatri Anabilim Dali, Turkey
London School of Economics & Political Science, United Kingdom
Queen Mary & Westfield College, United Kingdom
Website
Contact person
Mari Fresu, MHE Health Policy Officer
