Evaluating, Identifying and Reducing determinants of MHCs in Youth (EARLY)

Project Information

EARLY

Grant agreement ID: 101095392

DOI

10.3030/101095392

EC signature date 10 October 2023

Start date 1 December 2023

End date 30 November 2027

Funded under

• Health

Total cost

€ 3 014 766,25

EU contribution

€ 3 014 766,00

Coordinated by

HOCHSCHULE EMDEN/LEER
Germany

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - EARLY (Evaluating, Identifying and Reducing determinants of MHCs in Youth (EARLY))

Reporting period: 2023-12-01 to 2025-05-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Project context:
This project addresses the urgent need to improve youth mental health and reduce mental health conditions (MHCs) by identifying high-risk groups and applying a multicomponent, evidence-based intervention within a mixed-methods study. It provides a replicable, culturally adaptable model for embedding mental health literacy and prevention into community settings in participating countries and beyond.

Objectives:
Digital Knowledge Base – Develop and maintain a digital warehouse containing youth- and culture-sensitive assessment measures, national legislation, and service inventories (WP2, WP5, WP7).
Exposure Mapping – Generate harmonised, cross-national datasets from 12 countries on exposures and associated factors, disaggregated by age, gender, and country (WP3).
Intervention Evaluation – Assess the effectiveness and efficiency of multicomponent interventions for all youth and for vulnerable subgroups, with a focus on reducing inequalities (WP4–WP7).
Integration Toolbox – Produce a practical, user-friendly toolbox to support integration, adaptation, and long-term sustainability of the intervention (WP8).
Common Monitoring Model – Develop a data-driven system for continuous monitoring of youth exposures and mental health trends to enable proactive responses (WP9).
Dissemination & Capacity Building – Share findings in real time to inform decision-making, create a Youth Mental Health Awareness Plan, and deliver peer and parent training programmes (WP9).

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

WP1 – Management
Project governance structure and coordination established; regular coordination meetings and project monitoring in place.
WP2 – Digital Warehouse
Conceptual and methodological foundation by providing a multidisciplinary conceptual framework and a matrix of youth mental health measures.
Technical framework designed; data on measures, policies, and services collected from all countries.
Initial mapping of national legislation and policies completed.
WP2 results feed into WP6 survey design, WP7 intervention evaluation, and cross-WP harmonisation activities.
WP3 – Exposure Mapping
Standardised protocols implemented across 12 countries.
Preliminary datasets compiled and analysed to identify exposure prevalence and cross-country variations.
Mapping of exposures to youth mental health in the exposome framework.
Piloting of Living Common Data Set metadata structure.
General and country-specific factsheets on youth mental health.
WP4 – Intervention Needs Assessment/ Co-Design
Multicomponent model finalised and adapted for vulnerable youth.
Interventions developed with active youth participation; feedback integrated into programme refinements.
WP4 results feed into WP6 survey design.
WP5 – Service Integration
Comprehensive mapping of existing mental health services completed.
Gaps identified and alignment opportunities with intervention strategies developed
WP6 – Inequality Assessment
Baseline indicators and metrics for measuring mental health conditions impacts defined.
Pilot data collected.
Revised draft survey instrument for data collection based on pilot feedback from youths.
WP7 – Implementation & Evaluation
Main trial preparations complete; training and ethics approvals in place; initial pilot rollout underway.
WP8 – Toolbox
Initial templates for integration and sustainability produced.
WP9 – Monitoring & Dissemination
Common monitoring model under development; awareness activities launched (website, social media, webinars); draft Youth Mental Health information sheets produced.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

• First cross-national, harmonised dataset on youth mental health exposures in 12 diverse countries.
• Digital warehouse integrating assessment tools, policy data, and service mapping for intervention design.
• Knowledge on perceptions of youth, parents and stakeholders.
• First draft of the Monitoring model enabling both real-time response and long-term trend analysis developed.