Together4MH

Together4MH promotes mental health in schools, higher education institutions and workplaces by developing research-based solutions that are co-created with users and adaptable to different contexts.

The Together4MH project develops an evidence-based mental health toolbox that brings together different methods and digital solutions for education and working life. Instead of applying the same solutions everywhere, the approaches are adapted together with students, teachers, employees, managers and other local stakeholders. The solutions are implemented and evaluated in real-life schools, higher education institutions and workplaces across seven European countries.

The project aims to strengthen well-being, inclusion and resilience, particularly during important life transitions. Special attention is given to young people and transitions such as moving from one level of education to another or from education into working life. The project looks at both individual well-being and how communities and organisations can create environments that support mental health. The impact of the solutions is evaluated through indicators such as well-being, participation, educational progress, absenteeism and job retention, as well as their economic impacts.

An important part of Together4MH is ensuring that successful solutions can be adopted by new organisations. The participating schools, higher education institutions and workplaces not only implement solutions in their own environments but are also prepared to share their knowledge and support new organisations in adopting the approaches. In this way, the project aims to create a model that can continue to grow and create impact beyond the project period.

HAMK leads the work package focusing on education, where solutions supporting mental health and well-being are adapted and implemented in secondary and higher education settings. HAMK coordinates collaboration with educational institutions, maps their local ecosystems and stakeholders, and contributes to co-creation activities involving students, teachers and other stakeholders. HAMK also serves as one of the project’s higher education implementation sites and contributes its expertise in student well-being, learning and higher education pedagogy, including the LearnWell approach. HAMK also contributes to the wider uptake and scaling of the project results. During the final phase of the project, HAMK leads activities in which trained ambassadors from the first-generation organisations support and prepare new organisations to adopt the project’s approaches.

Target Groups

The main target groups of Together4MH are pupils and students, young people, employees, and educational and workplace organisations. The project also engages teachers, managers, employers, families and local communities, as well as policymakers at local, national and European levels. Particular attention is given to young people and vulnerable groups, as well as situations where mental health challenges may increase the risk of dropping out of education, absence from work or social exclusion.