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Abstract:
In Europe mental disorders account for 20% of disability; suicide is the highest in the world, and still 80% higher in Eastern than in Western Europe. One in four of us will suffer from a mental health problem during our lifetime.
Prevention and promotion have proven to bring about health, social and economic development and, in addition to treatment and rehabilitation services, are an essential strategy to improve populations' mental health. However investing in prevention and promotion can be perceived as an extravagant expenditure, especially where there are not yet enough infrastructures developed to cover treatment services.
E-health can contribute to support prevention and promotion, using new technology to bridge the differences between Eastern and Western Europe, for example sharing information across countries.
This paper presents two examples of using e-health at the European level, through European Commission co-financed projects, developing an information system for programme implementers and for policy makers.
It will present:
1. An Internet based information system of prevention and promotion programmes for mental health across Europe. The database outlines systematically programme descriptions, outcomes and implementation essentials. This example illustrates how e-health can serve information dissemination and support implementation across European Member States.
2. An Internet based information system on available infrastructures, policies and resources for prevention and promotion across European Member States. This example illustrates how intelligence on what is available, access to policies, and guidelines on how other countries have integrated prevention and promotion in existing infrastructures, can support developing preventive services and policies across Europe.
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