Mental health needs in Europe are rising, yet many individuals, particularly those in vulnerable circumstances, continue to face significant obstacles when seeking support. Whether due to stigma, lack of accessible information, or systems that are difficult to navigate, too many people are unable to receive timely and appropriate support. To drive meaningful change, we need assessment tools that truly reflect the lived realities of those who encounter these barriers.

To support the development of more inclusive mental health case assessment systems, the EQUICARES project is hosting the MapTheGap Hackathon between 9:00 and 17:00 on 2 April at Mundo Madou, Brussels.

This event will be a cooperative hackathon designed to transform the Levesque Framework, a specialised tool for assessing the accessibility and equity of mental health services for vulnerable populations.

The event aims to ensure that mental health assessment tools are practical, culturally sensitive and effective for those who need them most. Participants will together:

• Refine and validate indicators that capture barriers to mental healthcare access for vulnerable groups.
• Integrate supply- and demand-side perspectives to create tools that reflect real-world challenges.
• Generate actionable recommendations to enhance the framework’s relevance across diverse mental health settings.

By the end of the hackathon, the group will produce:

• Collaboratively designed assessment tools that reflect the analyses and insights of all participants.
• A prioritised set of qualitative and quantitative indicators tailored to different vulnerable groups and levels of mental healthcare provision. 

By participating, you can directly contribute to a tool that will be used across Europe to identify service gaps and advocate for better mental health policies.

Register here to participate.

Contact person: clara.masse(at)easpd.eu