From 12 to 13 June, EASPD travelled to Istanbul, Turkey, for the second in-person meeting of the EQUICARES project.

Launched six months ago, the EQUICARES project aims to make mental health and care services more accessible for vulnerable groups. This includes persons with disabilities, the Roma community, LGBTQI+ individuals, elders, migrants, refugees, and those facing socio-economic challenges.

Through in-depth research, the project will identify the main barriers preventing these communities from accessing the support they need. With the help of innovative, sustainable, and digital solutions, EQUICARES aims to transform mental health and care by working closely with service providers, public authorities, and policymakers to ensure that these services meet the needs of all individuals. By the end of the project, EQUICARES will offer evidence-based information, cost evaluations, and practical tools to help policymakers and communities to build more inclusive mental health policies and services.

The project is making progress! During the meeting, partners shared updates on frameworks to assess macro- (systemic), meso- (organisational/community), and micro- (individual/interpersonal) level barriers in accessing mental health, as well as preliminary findings.

Another important point of focus was the pre-profiling of the 8 pilot sites. Taking place in 7 countries, these pilots will cover all major categories of people in vulnerable situations. The pilots will identify the wide range of barriers and inequalities people face in accessing mental health care services, and innovative solutions offered to overcome them.

To learn more about EQUICARES, follow the project's LinkedIn page and visit the project's website.

Stay tuned for more updates as the project unfolds!