Problem

As mental health awareness continues to grow, there is still a significant lack of understanding and resources available for experiencing mental health issues. This is especially true in Europe, where stigma surrounding mental ill-health remains prevalent and access to care can be limited. In response to this need, our organisation leads on hosting a pan-European initiative that takes place every year in May – the largest opportunity for the whole of Europe to come together and focus on positive change for mental health.

This week-long online action is a chance for everyone to exchange about all aspects of mental health, share personal stories of coping with difficulties in times of crisis and in general, and highlight the need for action.

We also recognized the importance of making our message accessible to people from all walks of life, regardless of their background or level of knowledge about mental health.

Lastly, policy recommendations are released and debated at a key event at the European Parliament.

Learn more about our approach here.

Solution

To address these challenges, we developed a multifaceted campaign that included social media outreach, educational resources, events, and recommendations for policymakers at European level. Our social media strategy focused on creating shareable content that would engage people across different platforms. We also provided key messages about mental health in several European languages.

In addition to our online efforts, we organized in-person and online events on topics related to mental health. These events were designed to bring people together and foster conversations around mental health on focused topics.

Impact

Impressions increased 16.5 million from 6 million in the previous year
Hosted 5 events
Released a policy recommendation
Distributed valuable resources about mental health

"Our campaign had an incredible impact on raising awareness about mental health and connecting people with the resources they need to get help. We are proud of the work we did and look forward to continuing to support mental health initiatives in Europe."

Team

Team Member #1 - Communication Manager
- Developed the communication, social media strategy and created shareable content
- Managed outreach efforts and engaged with our community throughout Europe
- Liaised with relevant stakeholders at EU level, which resulted in receiving Patronage by the European Parliament as well as the personal patronage by Ms Stella Kyriakides, European Commissioner for Health
Team Member #2 - Junior Communication Officer
- Organized community events on mental health topics
- Liaised with local organizations to secure event spaces and resources
Team Member #3 - Junior Communication Officer
- Organized community events on mental health topics
- Liaised with local organizations to secure event spaces and resources

2023 European Mental Health Week Campaign Success