WHO/Europe is launching the third edition of the WHO Course on Policy and Leadership in Mental Health, with a particular focus on supporting early-career professionals who are involved in developing, implementing or strengthening mental health policies and services across Europe.
The course is part of the collaboration between WHO/Europe and the European Commission under the contribution agreement “Addressing Mental Health Challenges in the European Union, Iceland and Norway”, which aims to strengthen mental health systems across the region.
Building on feedback and experience from previous cohorts, this edition places particular emphasis on developing the next generation of mental health leaders and strengthening leadership capacity for the future of mental health systems across Europe.
Building leadership capacity early in careers
Mental health systems are complex, involving health and social care, public health, financing, workforce planning and other sectors. Strengthening these systems requires professionals who can understand how different parts of the system interact, work across institutional boundaries and contribute to evidence-informed policy and reform.
Developing leadership, policy and systems-thinking skills early in a professional career can help equip those working in mental health with the tools to navigate this complexity, collaborate effectively and contribute to sustainable improvements in mental health systems.
What will participants gain?
The course provides participants with the knowledge, practical skills and networks needed to better understand mental health systems, contribute to policy development and implementation, and support efforts to strengthen mental health services.
Through expert-led sessions, interactive workshops and peer exchange, participants will:
- strengthen their capacity to design and implement evidence-based mental health policies;
- engage with WHO experts and peers from European Union countries, Iceland and Norway;
- explore approaches to strengthening mental health systems and reducing inequalities; and
- build a network for cross-country collaboration and peer exchange.
Course content
The programme explores 3 interconnected areas:
- Understanding mental health and mental health systems: how systems are organized and function, how data on prevalence and population needs can inform policy, and the key elements of effective mental health systems.
- Considerations for policy implementation: challenges and opportunities in mental health service delivery, including the policy shift towards community-based and integrated care, workforce competencies, legislation and human rights, and the role of financing in shaping services.
- Leading change in mental health policy: approaches to leadership and evidence-based reform, with a focus on translating policy into action and ensuring meaningful participation and co-creation with people with lived experience.
Learning across countries and institutions
The course combines online and in-person learning, bringing together participants, WHO experts and partners from across Europe. The programme includes expert-led sessions, interactive workshops and peer learning, creating opportunities for participants to connect the course content with their own professional contexts.
The in-person component takes place in Utrecht, the Netherlands (Kingdom of the), and is organized in collaboration with the Trimbos Institute, the WHO Collaborating Centre for Mental Health Services and Interventions Over the Life Course. The collaboration provides participants with an opportunity to engage directly with experts with experience in mental health policy, systems and service development.
Participation
For this edition, participation is by country nomination only. Nominations are coordinated through the relevant national authorities, with a focus on identifying early-career professionals who are already contributing to mental health policy, programme implementation or service planning and who can apply the course learning in their professional context.