ENPSIT is involved as a partner in the consortia of two projects, funded by the Asylum, Migration and integration Fund (DG HOME)

Mental Health for all

MHEALTH4ALL (Mental Health for All) brings together leading academics and non-academics – linguists, clinical and social psychologists, communication scientists, migrant and healthcare provider organisations, public service interpreters – and will develop, implement, and evaluate a sustainable digital information and communication platform. The platform, which is evidence-based, multilingual and culture-sensitive, is meant to enhance access to mental healthcare for third-country nationals with low language proficiency in the host country’s language, and this across various European healthcare settings. The three-year project (January 2022 – December 2024) is led by the University of Amsterdam (Prof. Dr. Barbara Schouten). The action has three interrelated objectives following a bottom-up approach.

• to bring together academics, civil society stakeholders, healthcare providers and policy makers through networking activities and an online platform.
• to map both existing language support resources for third-country nationals in mental healthcare and identify barriers, needs and strategies in accessing mental healthcare services on a micro, meso and macrolevel.
• to evaluate innovative multilingual communication strategies to mitigate obstacles and promote access to mental healthcare for third-country nationals with low language proficiency.​

The University of Amsterdam is preparing the cross-national evaluation of the digital ‘MentalHealth4All platform’ in practice. This multilingual communication and information platform aims to promote access to mental healthcare for refugees and migrants across Europe. Interested health and social care providers (HSCPs) and organizations can register to participate in the evaluation via mhealth4all-cw-fmg@uva.nl.

The evaluation of the platform will be performed with a pretest-posttest crossnational survey study. This study will take place in September and October 2024 in nine European countries: Belgium, Germany, Italy, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Spain, and the United Kingdom. Participants will be requested to use the platform and fill in pre- and posttest questionnaires.
The findings of this cross-national study will help to deepen our understanding of how a multilingual platform may promote access to mental healthcare services for LLP refugees and migrants. If successful, this intervention could be used to improve access to mental healthcare services for any LLP refugees and migrants across Europe (and beyond).

EU-WEBPSI

In line with these challenges, the project comprises 3 objectives:

• to design of a common framework of minimum quality standards of (WEB)PSI competence, training and accreditation in combination with development of information and learning materials accessible through the web portal.
• the design and development of WEBPSI interpreting solutions across national boundaries and facilitated through the web portal. 
• strengthening of the interpreting capacity of WEBPSI for LLDs by training 60 applicants for international protection and recently recognised refugees into qualified community interpreters for 8 language combinations, enabling them to interpret across national boundaries. 

The project aspires to guarantee quality language services and access for third-country nationals to fundamental services and resources. Its focus on quality and flexibility benefits all actors engaged in PSI services, viz. service providers, interpreters, interpreter trainers and TCNs.

This three-year project (September 2022 – August 2025) is led by Ghent University (Prof. Dr. July De Wilde and Prof. Dr. Katrijn Maryns) and involves a multi-stakeholder partnership between asylum reception authorities (RA), organisations involved in interpreter training & certification (OITC), university partners and ENPSIT. ENPSIT’s role is fundamental in two ways: during the project, ENPSIT will contribute to the development of harmonized public service interpreting, interpreter training, assessment, and certification across the EU. After completion of the project, ENPSIT will give continuity to the web portal that will be developed and thereby ensure long-term impact of the project resources.

The EU-WEBPSI project is progressing rapidly! ENPSIT, in collaboration with our project partners, is actively working on several key initiatives:

• Creating Train-the-Trainer Material: We’re developing train-the-trainer modules for PSI interpreting, including specific focus areassuch as video-mediated interpreting and languages of lesser diffusion (LLDs).
• Developing the EU-WEBPSI Portal: This portal will host our training materials, alongside a booking and video tool designed to connect with LLD interpreters across Europe.Launching Training Courses for PSI Interpreters: Our partners in Belgium, France, and Greece are currently recruiting candidates and ensuring everything is set for the courses. These will take place between September 2024 and February 2025, providing an opportunity to test our developed products while training 60 LLD interpreters.
• Disseminating Updates and Results: We are keeping stakeholders informed through our project website, newsletter, and several online events planned for 2025. 

Are you interested in receiving project updates directly in your inbox? Subscribe to the EU-WEBPSI newsletter here.
You can now also connect with the EU-WEBPSI project on social media! Follow the project on LinkedIn and X to stay up-to-date with the latest news and developments.