How do you make mental healthcare accessible in a super-diverse society? By treating language not as a side issue, but as a foundation. The European research project MHealth4All, to which several researchers from the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) contributed, has been nominated for the Language Industry Awards (LIAs) in the category Best Language-Related Project. The nomination recognises innovative initiatives that create tangible social impact through language.
Vote now and help put this VUB project on the international stage. Voting is open until 22 March.
Across the European Union, one in eight people experiences mental health challenges. For refugees and migrants, the risk is even higher. Many face stress before, during and after migration, while access to appropriate support is far from guaranteed. Language and cultural differences remain major barriers to care.
MHealth4All starts from a clear ambition: to make mental healthcare understandable and accessible, regardless of language or background.
A consortium of thirteen partners from nine European countries developed a multilingual, culturally sensitive and evidence-based digital information and communication platform focused on mental health and mental healthcare. The platform helps reduce linguistic and cultural barriers and supports refugees and migrants in finding suitable care.
The platform offers:
- clear and accessible information about mental health in multiple languages
- a searchable database of reliable resources
- an interactive map showing local support services in a language users understand
The focus is deliberately on people themselves. Anyone experiencing stress, anxiety or grief can find a trustworthy starting point and a pathway towards professional help.
Testing with more than 300 migrants and 50 healthcare professionals shows clear results.
“The platform significantly improved both understanding and perceptions of mental healthcare. Care providers reported that communication better matched the needs of diverse migrant communities,” says VUB researcher Koen Kerremans.
European collaboration with impact
MHealth4All was developed with support from the European Union and brought together universities, healthcare organisations and language experts from across Europe, including the Netherlands, Spain, the United Kingdom, Germany, Poland, Italy, Slovakia, Lithuania and Belgium.
Beyond the online platform, the project also resulted in academic publications, workshops, training sessions, symposia and an international closing event focused on linguistic and cultural diversity in mental healthcare.
Cast your vote
The Language Industry Awards celebrate innovative language projects, creative language services and impactful initiatives within the international language sector each year.