ICare - Integrating Technology into Mental Health Care Delivery in Europe

The evidence base of Internet-based interventions in the prevention and treatment of mental health conditions has rapidly grown in the past decade. Yet many European countries have not implemented these promising approaches into health systems. Individuals with risk conditions or distinct mental health problems interested in using online interventions are often unable to access appropriate and evidence-based online interventions.

The aim of ICare researchers from Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Spain, the UK and the Netherlands is change this by establishing a comprehensive model of promoting mental health in Europe. ICare stands for evidence based risk detection, disease prevention, and treatment facilitation for the most prevalent mental health problems and disorders on a common online-platform.

ICare is designed to improve existing healthcare models, open new access paths and overcome implementation barriers. ICare addresses several main goals of EU health policy, (European Commission eHealth Action Plan 2012-2020: Improving the quality of health care, improving access to health care, improving effectiveness and acceptance of eHealth tools.
In Spain 3 studies will be held

Intervention to Promote Resilience and Coping Skills for Students at Risk of Developing Adjustment Disorders (ICare-R) WP Leaders: Dr. Cristina Botella, Dr. Azucena García-Palacios (Universitat Jaume I) The main aim of this study is to  test the effectiveness s of unguided Internet intervention program for promoting resilience and coping skills in people at risk of developing Adjustment Disorders (AD), such as students low in resilience confronting a crucial life-event like the first year of university.  The study will be conducted in Spain, Germany and Switzerland

Transdiagnostic Preventive Interventions for common mental health disorders: WP Leader: Dr. David Daniel Ebert, Prof. Dr. Matthias Berking (Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg).The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of guided and unguided online interventions for subclinical symptoms of common mental health disorders (depression, anxiety, harmful or hazardous alcohol and comorbid problems; CMHD).The trial will be conducted in Germany, Switzerland, Spain and the Netherlands

Transdiagnostic Preventive Interventions for Eating Disorders and Obesity for Adolescents in School Settings: WP Leader: Dr. Megan Jones (Medizinische Universität Wien) The overall objectives of this study is  to the evaluate the effectiveness of an online prevention intervention, tailored to participant needs, for promoting healthy eating behaviours and reducing eating disorders and obesity risk among adolescents in parallel pragmatic multicentre randomized controlled trials with two conditions (ICare-Prevent vs. Prevention As Usual) in Austria and Spain.