Fight against depression and suicide in Europe: evidence-based tools partly utilised.

Results of JA situation analysis

György Purebl, Tamás Kurimay

Semmelweis University of Medicine, Budapest, Hungary

According to the WHO GBD Study depression will be the second most frequent cause of disability by 2020. Although many activities and research have been done against depression, and devidence-based therapies are also available, depression remains a top health concern with increasing significance.

Joint Action of Mental Health and Well-being Workpackage 4 aims to develop a framework for action at the level of policies, infrastructures and interventions for prevention and treatment of depression and suicide. The first step is the data collection about the best practices in the participating countries.

Comprehensive assessment was conducted for evaluating the utilisation of evidence-based tools: 1.) systematic review of scientific publications and policy documents in the field, 2.) assessment of best practices 3.) situation analysis in national frameworks. The evaluation do not focus only to scientific and clinical excellence but also management and activity on policy level. Data collection is conducted with the help of the JA WP4’s key stakeholders.

The preliminary data of the evaluation revealed that although many evidence-based tools are available, there are considerable differences in their utilisation, and many of them are not enacted into a policy context in the different participating countries. The final data will be presented in more details.

Although combating depression and suicide is a significant need in public health, evidence-based tools are partly exploited in the practice. In the next phase of JA an action framework will be developed, for tackling the obstacles of dissemination of evidence-based practices in Europe, with the invocation of policy context.