Mental Health Matters – an NDPHS project on mental health at work selected for funding - NDPHS

Mental Health Matters – an NDPHS project on mental health at work selected for funding

28 April, 2023

Mental health of employees is a major concern in the Baltic Sea Region. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine, half of the EU workers considered stress to be common in their workplace, contributing to around half of all lost working days. Combined with a shortage of qualified workforce, this puts the ability of public and private enterprises to withstand crises in jeopardy. To be economically and socially resilient, companies and communities need a mentally resilient workforce.

“The relationship between work and mental health involves two key issues: how mental health impacts the ability to work, and how work impacts mental health and well-being. The concept of work-related mental health has become more nuanced over time, and mental health at work encompasses more than just diagnosed disorders or their absence”, says the OSH EG’s Chair Owe Österbacka.

Mr Österbacka further states, that the employer has a responsibility to provide a safe and healthy workplace, which includes identifying and reducing psychosocial risks. All actors involved, such as employers, employees, and occupational health and safety personnel, have important roles and tasks. Cooperation is essential for identifying and assessing risks, as well as successfully removing or reducing them. To achieve this, there is a growing need for knowledge and tools related to work and mental health issues, enabling all parties to work in a preventive and health-promoting manner.

The Mental Health Matters project, funded through Interreg Baltic Sea Region Programme 2021-2027, brings together policymakers, employer and employee representatives, OSH experts and educators to assess the existing policies and practices related to mental health at work. During the project’s course, they will propose measures to better address current and emerging psychosocial risks at work. As a short-term solution, the project will develop a first-aid-kit to support small and medium-sized enterprises in assessing psychosocial risks and taking preventive action.

The project will run for two years from August 2023 until July 2025.

The partnership is comprised of the NDPHS Secretariat as the lead partner and five institutions represented in the Occupational Safety and Health Expert Group:

 

Text: Saara Rissanen, the NDPHS Secretariat, Owe Österbacka, Chair, the OSH EG.

 

Other News
PA Health in the EUSBSR Annual Forum 2025
The EUSBSR Annual Forum is one of the largest pan-Baltic cooperation events in the Baltic Sea Region. This year the Forum will be organized in Sopot, Poland from October 29 to October 30. Join us on Thursday, October 30 for a discussion about the workplace mental health and psychosocial risks featuring expert insights. In times of uncertainty and mental health decline across the Baltic Sea Region, we will look for practical strategies to support well-being, resilience, and build stability.
27 August, 2025
New project announcement: Interreg Baltic Sea Region Mental Health project platform powers up cooperation
From climate resilience to mental health, project platforms transform stand-alone solutions into powerhouses of cooperation. These capitalisation initiatives, labelled Operations of Strategic Importance in Interreg Baltic Sea Region, connect project results and drive meaningful change. The NDPHS led BSR Mental Health project platform outlines a modern healthcare system for the region and consolidates outcomes from 13 EU projects.
8 August, 2025
Arts on Prescription Presented as a Model for Mental Well-being at Nordic Public Health Conference 2025
The Interreg Baltic Sea Region project "Arts on Prescription" (AoP) drew widespread attention for its innovative approach to mental health and well-being at the Nordic Public Health Conference 2025 in Gothenburg. Hosted from 13-15 May, the conference gathered 600 public health professionals from 18 countries, underscoring the growing global interest in Nordic models of health equity and social innovation.
8 July, 2025
Building a Healthier Workforce: New policy recommendations and a digital tool boost mental health for resilient teams
As it nears completion, the Interreg Baltic Sea Region project MentalHealthMatters has released a Discussion Document with practical recommendations for improving workplace well-being. The project also unveiled a digital First-Aid Kit packed with research-backed resources to help navigate common psychosocial risks at work.
9 June, 2025
Listen on Spotify – “SAFE and Sound” podcast launch
Tune in Health! The Interreg Central Baltic project's "Solutions for Age-Friendly Employer" (SAFE) consortium is launching "SAFE and Sound", a sub-series on the NDPHS podcast "Tune in Health". Join us as we dive into what makes a workplace age-friendly, share success stories, and explore how to boost job opportunities for individuals aged 55 and above.
4 June, 2025
World No Tobacco Day: Concerning trends in use of nicotine products among youth in the Nordic and Baltic countries
Nicotine is a toxic and highly addictive substance found in cigarettes and other tobacco products. In recent years, new nicotine products, such as e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches, have entered the market, appealing particularly to children and young people. On World No Tobacco Day we join the global campaign to raise awareness about the harmful tactics of the tobacco industry and share a recently published report by Nordic Welfare Center highlighting the trends in nicotine product use among youth in the Nordic and Baltic countries.
30 May, 2025
Tiina Tambaum in the “Expert on Air”podcast: Is intergenerational cooperation a salvation?
Our Interreg CB project's SAFE expert Tiina Tambaum joined the "Expert on Air" podcast to discuss how older people can participate more actively in social life. The Tallinn University's podcast provides an overview of the current situation, future trends, and practical solutions that will help improve the inclusion of people in our society regardless of their age. Tiina Tambaum explores questions such as is older people involvement in work, community and political life sufficiently accessible? And if not, what could help them better apply their skills and knowledge and what is societies role in this process?
28 April, 2025
All News >