Programme

Context Presentation

• Welcome, the round of introduction and housekeeping 
• Introduction Catalunia Context, the work of the Sant Joan de Déu Foundation and Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu
• EU-PROMENS Quality Criteria
• Preparation for the co-creative conclusive workshop

Programme presentation

• Presenting each day of the programme    
• Selection of small groups                                                                                   
• Collecting expectations from participants

Exploring Innovative Approaches to Perinatal Mental Health, Intellectual Disabilities, and cross-cutting approaches (creative therapies, virtual reality, spirituality)

This day brings together diverse and innovative approaches to mental health care, with a special focus on perinatal mental health, intellectual disabilities, creative therapies, and the intersection of spirituality and well-being. The sessions explore tailored interventions for vulnerable groups, including pregnant and postpartum women, individuals with intellectual disabilities, and young people in the justice system.

Through discussions on perinatal mental health services, participants will learn about both outpatient support and in-hospital care models aimed at strengthening the parent-baby relationship and addressing acute mental health needs. The programme also highlights the role of creative therapies, such as theatre, art, and comics, in mental health recovery and emotional expression. Additionally, immersive and multisensory interventions, including Snoezelen therapy, offer insight into supporting individuals with cognitive challenges. Finally, the importance of spiritual care in mental health is explored, particularly within youth justice settings.

Exploring Mental Health Care in Penitentiary Settings

The day’s programme focuses on mental health care for individuals in penitentiary settings, followed by knowledge integration and reflection on the experiences gathered over the first three days.

The day is dedicated to an in-depth look at the Penitentiary Psychiatric Hospitalization Unit of PSSJD, specifically the Brians 1 and Brians 2 facilities in Catalonia. These units provide acute, sub-acute, and intensive psychiatric rehabilitation services, catering to the mental health needs of incarcerated individuals. The session includes an overview of treatment approaches, early intervention, and ambulatory care services, with insights from psychiatric and nursing professionals working in the system.

The day concludes with an interactive Knowledge Integration Session, where participants reflect on key takeaways from the past three days. The session encourages knowledge-sharing and experience exchange, fostering deeper understanding and collaborative learning. A moderated discussion helps consolidate insights and align expectations for the following day’s activities.

Mental Health Care for Vulnerable Populations

This day of the exchange programme focuses on mental health care for vulnerable populations, including individuals without stable housing and immigrant communities. The sessions explore different models of care, followed by interactive discussions and reflections.

The day begins with the Presentation of the ESMES and SATMI Programmes, which address the mental health needs of individuals experiencing homelessness and immigrant populations. The session highlights tailored approaches to providing psychiatric and psychosocial support to these communities, ensuring accessibility and continuity of care.

A series of flash talks and interactive discussions follows, featuring diverse approaches to mental health care:

• Home Care in Different Forms – Exploring various models of psychiatric and psychological support provided in home settings.
• Functional Unit and Recovery – Insights into specialised mental health recovery services.
• First-Episode Psychosis Care and Digital Health – Examining early intervention and the role of digital solutions in supporting patients.
• Primary Support Care – Understanding foundational mental health support structures.
• Suicide Prevention Programme – Discussion on strategies and programmes aimed at suicide prevention.

The day concludes with a Knowledge Integration Session, where participants reflect on the day’s discussions, consolidate key learnings, and exchange insights on effective mental health interventions. The session also includes a checkpoint on programme logistics for the next day, ensuring smooth continuity of the exchange.

Mental Health and Social Support for Refugees

This day focuses on mental health and social support services for refugees, exploring the initiatives led by the Fundació Germà Tomàs Canet in Manresa. The sessions highlight approaches to addressing social exclusion and psychological vulnerabilities among displaced populations, followed by a reflective knowledge integration session.

The morning session provides an overview of refugee assistance projects, including:

• The Refugee Programme – Offering housing, integration support, and mental health care.
• Social Emergency Centre – Providing immediate support for individuals in crisis situations.
• Psychological Intervention Services – Ensuring mental health support for refugees facing trauma and distress.

These sessions, led by experts in refugee care, outline strategies for providing holistic social and mental health support, with a focus on inclusion and empowerment.

The visit continues throughout the day, offering a deeper exploration of the refugee care framework. Participants gain insights into the coordination of multisectoral support services, the role of mental health professionals, and the challenges of refugee integration in host communities.

The day concludes with a Knowledge Integration Session, where participants share their reflections, consolidating learnings and discussing best practices. A checkpoint on programme logistics follows, ensuring alignment for upcoming activities.

Child and Adolescent Mental Health

This day of the exchange programme is dedicated to child and adolescent mental health, focusing on specialised interventions for children exposed to trauma, abuse, and other psychological challenges. 

• Presentation of SJD Barcelona Children’s Hospital – Overview of its Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service, led by a specialist in the field, highlighting research and innovative practices in psychiatric care for young patients.
• TEVI Programme Presentation – A support programme for children who have witnessed violence, providing a safe therapeutic environment for emotional healing and psychological recovery.
• Presentation of Child Protection – The ESTIM Programme – A multidisciplinary approach to treating abused children, with a focus on addressing suspected cases of child sexual abuse through collaboration between psychologists and paediatricians.
• Presentation of HENKA – A European Programme for Youth and Adolescents – An initiative supporting young people’s mental health through evidence-based interventions and research-driven strategies.

The afternoon includes a visit to HSJD (Hospital Sant Joan de Déu), providing participants with firsthand insights into paediatric mental health services.

The day concludes with a Knowledge Integration Session, where participants reflect on insights gained from the day’s sessions. Personal reflections are shared through brief presentations, and a programme checkpoint ensures alignment for the next day’s activities.

This day highlights the importance of early intervention, trauma-informed care, and multidisciplinary collaboration in addressing mental health challenges among children and adolescents.

Homelessness, Independent Living, and Social Support Strategies

This day of the exchange programme focuses on homelessness care reform and autonomous living support, exploring strategies for deinstitutionalisation, housing support, and social integration. The sessions include presentations, a walking tour, and a visit to a living support programme.

The day begins with the Hort de la Vila 2.0 Presentation, an initiative aiming to modernise homeless care through architectural reform and systemic impact. The programme seeks to establish a sustainable model for deinstitutionalisation and inform public policies on homelessness in Spain. Experts share insights on how this initiative transforms care models, infrastructure, and social reintegration efforts for people experiencing homelessness.

Following a continuation of the Hort de la Vila 2.0 discussion, participants take part in a walking tour of the centre, providing firsthand exposure to the facilities and strategies implemented to support individuals facing homelessness.

In the afternoon, the group visits the Autonomous Living Support Programme by the Tomas Canet Foundation. This initiative supports individuals transitioning to independent living, particularly those in vulnerable situations. The visit includes discussions on the programme’s holistic approach to housing, social integration, and psychological support, led by specialists working in international protection and housing assistance.

During the day, participants engage in a reflection session. The day concludes with a checkpoint on programme logistics for the next day, ensuring smooth transitions for upcoming activities.

Specialised Mental Health Care in Judicial and Therapeutic Settings

This day focuses on mental health care for adults and adolescents with complex needs, including those in juvenile justice settings and those requiring intensive therapeutic support. Participants are divided into three groups, each exploring a distinct approach to adult or adolescent mental health intervention.

Group 1: 

The first group visits the Therapeutic Coexistence Unit at Els Til-lers Juvenile Justice Centre, which provides intensive mental health care and addiction treatment for adolescents (14–21 years) involved in the judicial system. The session introduces the multidisciplinary therapeutic approach used to support young individuals with transgressive behaviours, highlighting intervention strategies that aim to rehabilitate and reintegrate them into society.

Group 2: 

The second group visits Acompanya’m, an innovative educational and residential therapeutic unit at SJD Barcelona Children’s Hospital. This first-of-its-kind programme in Spain provides comprehensive, family-centred mental health care for children and adolescents, addressing severe psychological disorders with tailored, long-term therapeutic support.

Group 3: 

This visit to SJD Xarxa de Salut Mental - Centre de Salut Mental d’Adults (CSMA) introduces mental health care services for adults. Presentations cover home psychiatric care, outpatient services, and treatment approaches for individuals with severe mental health conditions.

The afternoon is reserved for optional activities, which allow participants to explore Barcelona’s cultural and social landscape.

Mental Health Care for Vulnerable Populations and Peer Support

This day of the exchange programme is dedicated to specialised mental health interventions for different vulnerable groups, with participants divided into multiple groups visiting distinct facilities.

Group 4 visits ESMES, a programme providing mental health care for individuals experiencing homelessness. The session includes discussions with psychiatrists and nurses on outreach strategies, intervention approaches, and psychiatric support for this highly vulnerable population.

At the same time, Group 5 explores SATMI, a specialised mental health care programme for immigrants. Experts present the psychological and psychiatric support services tailored to the unique challenges faced by migrants and refugees, addressing cultural and systemic barriers to mental health care.

Group 6 attends a session at an integrated care unit for child and adolescent victims of sexual abuse, where clinical psychologists and technical coordinators discuss multidisciplinary approaches to supporting survivors. The session highlights the collaboration between psychology, social services, and legal frameworks to ensure comprehensive care and protection for affected individuals.

Meanwhile, Group 7 visits the Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu - Subacute Unit, where the focus is on peer-to-peer support in mental health recovery. Occupational therapists lead discussions on the role of peer-led support models in promoting long-term well-being and rehabilitation, demonstrating the value of lived experiences in mental health recovery.

In the afternoon, participants engage in rapporteurs’ feedback preparation, working in small groups to summarise key learnings from the programme. 

Digital Mental Health, Reflection, and Closing Ceremony

The final day of the exchange programme is dedicated to digital innovations in mental health, participant reflections, and the formal closing of the event. 

The day begins with a presentation on SOM Mental Health 360º, a digital platform designed to set a national and international benchmark in mental health services. This session explores how digital tools can enhance accessibility and efficiency in mental health support. Following this, the IMPROVA Project is introduced. As a collaborative effort between research centres, universities, and service providers, the project represents a significant advancement in adolescent mental health and well-being through the development of an eHealth intervention platform.

A short ‘Tell me more about you’ session follows, providing participants with an opportunity to share final thoughts and personal insights from the programme. The morning concludes with the Final Workshop: Rapporteurs’ Feedback, where participants collectively reflect on their experiences. 

After a lunch break, the Final Workshop continues, focusing on evaluation and closure. Activities include a feedback survey, expectation discussions, and final reflections by participants. The event concludes with a certificate ceremony and closing remarks, marking the end of the programme.