6.I. Scientific session: Mental health in all policies (MHiAP): Integrating mental health in different policy domains

Abstract Background Mental health is shaped substantially by other factors beyond healthcare. A wide range of individual, social, and structural determinants interact over the life course, influencing mental health. The Mental Health in all Policies (MHiAP) approach underscores that the roots of mental health extend beyond the healthcare system. In Europe, where policy challenges are increasingly complex and interconnected, adopting an MHiAP approach can yield significant benefits. Not only in terms of improved mental health outcomes but also through enhanced social cohesion, planetary health and economic stability. The cumulative effects of intersectoral policies are clear: the mental health of European societies is closely linked to the integration of mental health into all areas of policymaking. This workshop brings together insights from four projects to advance the implementation of the MHiAP approach and foster evidence-based mental health policymaking by presenting complementary perspectives from national, regional, and local levels. Objectives 1. Setting the stage for a discussion on the importance of integrating mental health in different policy domains. 2. Present good practices and successful strategies across policy sectors for improving mental health promotion. 3. Provide recommendations for the implementation of an MHiAP approach, gathered in a draft guidance, and share early experiences from four EU countries as they prepare for the implementation of actions from the guidance. 4. Increase insights into perceptions of (factors influencing) mental health by youth themselves, and how local and national governments develop, implement, and evaluate mental health policies for young adults. 5. Discussing the needs, opportunities and experiences of workshop participants and their countries regarding the implementation of MHiAP. Format Scientific session. The first presentation will outline the findings of the Joint Action PreventNCD, which mapped cross-sectoral mental health promotion strategies and identified best practices, challenges, and opportunities for MHiAP implementation. Building on this foundation, the second presentation will introduce a first draft of the Joint Action MENTOR guidance, a tool developed to support policymakers at national and regional levels in advancing MHiAP adoption through evidence-based methodologies and pilot testing. The third presentation will give an insight into perceptions of (factors influencing) mental health by youth themselves. The last presentation will delve into the experiences of Dutch policymakers at local and national levels, illustrating the complexities of developing and implementing mental health policies for young adults while emphasizing the need for cross-sectoral collaboration and data-driven decision-making. The workshop format will combine engaging presentations with interactive discussions, allowing participants to engage with speakers, share insights, and reflect on the barriers and enablers discussed. Key messages • Increased knowledge on how mental health is shaped by factors in non-health policy domains and insight into approaches that have addressed mental health in non-health policy domains. • Increased insight into a draft guidance for developing, implementing and evaluating MHiAP, and learning from countries that are part of a pilot study on this draft.