The project is designed to forge sustainable links between organisations active in Mental Health, Education & Training, society at large (joined up thinking), to foster equality, non-discrimination, social inclusion and eliminate the stigma around the topic of mental health.

“We have occupational First Aid in the workplace but no Mental Health First Aid even though It is said that 1 in 4 of us will experience a mental health issue at some point in our life.” (Mind.org.uk, 2020).

The workplace offers many advantages for promoting mental health including access to target groups who are otherwise difficult to access, established communications networks and cohesive workgroups. The cumulative effect of increased working hours is having an important effect on the lifestyle of a huge number of people, which is likely to prove damaging to their mental well-being. (Mental Health Ireland, 2020)

We recognize that this is a very important project, we feel very strongly that this project can produce a step-change in attitudes towards people with mental illness in workplaces all across Europe. We believe that EUNOIA is a solution that employers want ie. a practicable, cost effective, easily understandable way to address mental health meet their duty of care.

The project will develop 3 main outcomes:

• Online platform with Interactive Mental Health First Aid training
• A handbook for Employers on Mental Health First Aid Implementation
• A handbook for Employees on Mental Health First Aid

This is a 2 year long project starting in December 2020 and ending in December 2022.