Reducing barriers and improving facilitators to accessing cancer prevention services for people with mental ill-health in Europe

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…

CO-CAPTAIN Pilots. Our progress in Europe

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…

New Publication: Addressing Barriers to Healthcare for People with Mental Ill-Health in Europe

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…

CO-CAPTAIN in Austria: Innovation in Cancer Prevention for People with Mental Health Problems

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…

Health Literacy and Empowerment for People with Severe Mental Illnesses

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…

Enhancing Cancer Prevention for Individuals with Mental Health Challenges: The Role of Patient Navigators in the CO-CAPTAIN Project

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…

Addressing Disparities in Cancer and Mental Health Care: An Urgent Challenge for Europe.

Mental health and cancer care are two critical areas of health care that are unfortunately often addressed independently. However, the intersection between these two fields is increasingly evident and requires comprehensive and coordinated attention. In Europe, we face the challenge of addressing disparities in cancer and mental health care to ensure that everyone has access…