On 4 February, World Cancer Day, Igor Grabovac, Public Health Specialist at the Medical University of Vienna and coordinator of the CO-CAPTAIN project, participated in the first HaDEA Project Showcase, an event organised by the European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA) under the theme ‘Fostering synergies to beat cancer: The impact of EU-funded projects’.…
On 4 February we celebrate World Cancer Day, a global day to reflect, act and give a voice to millions of people affected by cancer. This year, the theme ‘United by Unique’ invites us to put people at the centre and their stories at the heart of the conversation. Cancer is not just a medical…
The CO-CAPTAIN project continues to generate scientific evidence to address health inequalities. Recently, an article has been published in the Journal of Cancer Policy that analyses the challenges and opportunities for improving access to cancer prevention services for people with mental health problems in Europe. The study, conducted in Austria, Greece, Poland and Spain, analyses…
The CO-CAPTAIN project is being implemented in four European cities, where pilots are being developed to adapt Primary Prevention strategies in the fight against cancer, focusing on the needs of people with mental health problems. These pilots are essential to identify and overcome barriers that limit access to quality preventive care. A key component of…
It is with great enthusiasm that we present the first interview in the series of Ambassadors of the CO-CAPTAIN Project. On this occasion, we meet Adelina Bentán, administrative assistant at the Primary Care Centre of Cervera and member of the Institut Català de la Salut. Adelina has a solid background in Social Work and a…
We are proud to share the latest publication developed within the framework of the CO-CAPTAIN project, featured in the European Journal of Public Health. The article, “Barriers and facilitators to healthcare services of people with mental ill-health in Europe”, explores the challenges and opportunities for improving access to healthcare services for people with mental ill-health…
In Poland, more than a quarter of the adult population has experienced a mental health problem, yet only 16% of those affected have sought professional psychiatric or psychological assistance. This is largely due to the limited availability of healthcare professionals but also to the stigmatization of people with mental challenges (2021). At the same time,…
The CO-CAPTAIN project is being implemented in several European countries, including Spain, Poland and Greece, but today we will focus on its pilot in Austria. This pioneering initiative aims to provide personalised, evidence-based cancer prevention navigation for individuals facing mental health problems. Through a person-centred approach, CO-CAPTAIN aims to address risk factors such as smoking…
Mental health problems are associated with an increased burden of illness. Furthermore, somatic illnesses represent an additional potential problem for people with mental health problems, partly due to increased risk factors and ‘diagnostic overshadowing’. Nevertheless, people with mental disorders seek professional support late or not at all. Promoting health literacy and empowerment are important starting…
In 2019, The Lancet Psychiatry Commission highlighted a critical issue: «the poor physical health of people with mental illness is a multifaceted, transdiagnostic, and global problem» (Steptoe and Fancourt, 2019). The Commission noted that individuals with mental health problems have a lower life expectancy compared to those without, partly due to «poor clinical management,» and…