The MentBox consortium held its 3rd Plenary Meeting on March 19th, marking another important milestone in this EU‑funded project. These plenary meetings—organised every six months—offer a crucial opportunity for all partners to review progress across work packages, exchange insights, and discuss how current findings are shaping the development of the Modular Mental Health Toolbox (MH‑Toolbox).

With each edition, we move closer to delivering a practical, adaptable, and evidence-based digital toolbox that will support EU Member States in strengthening their mental health strategies, with a strong focus on vulnerable populations.
Collective Progress Across Work Packages

During the meeting, partners presented the latest developments in their activities, reflecting the collaborative and multidisciplinary nature of the project. The discussions highlighted how ongoing research, co‑creation work, and stakeholder engagement efforts are contributing to the content, structure, and practical implementation pathways of the future MH‑Toolbox.

Key Topics Discussed During the Meeting

1. Delphi Co‑creation Study Results
Researchers from the Slovene Centre for Suicide Research at the University of Primorska presented the outcomes of their Delphi expert consultation process. This iterative approach is helping identify and refine the most promising mental health interventions to be included in the MH‑Toolbox. Their work supports consensus-building among experts and ensures that selected tools are relevant, feasible, and adaptable across diverse national contexts.

2. Engagement With Policy Stakeholders in EU Ministries
The consortium reviewed progress in the consultation process with mental health decision‑makers across EU ministries. These interactions are essential for identifying implementation barriers, understanding national priorities, and ensuring that the Toolbox integrates seamlessly with existing mental health systems. Their contributions will shape the implementation guidance that forms one of the core strengths of the MH‑Toolbox.

3. Overview of the Participatory Co‑creation Process in Polígono Sur (Sevilla, Spain)
Partners shared preliminary results from the first phase of the participatory co‑creation process in Polígono Sur, a key testing site for adapting Doing What Matters in Times of Stress. This work involves community members—including the Roma population—and provides critical insight into tailoring interventions for vulnerable groups. The findings will feed directly into the Toolbox’s adaptation guidelines.

4. Progress on the Development of the MH‑Toolbox
The team leading the Toolbox development presented updates on its conceptual design and emerging structure. As evidence and co‑creation results continue to be consolidated, the vision of the MH‑Toolbox becomes increasingly concrete. The results shared during the meeting will play an essential role in shaping a solution that is practical, user‑friendly, and aligned with the needs of EU Member States.

Looking Ahead
This 3rd Plenary Meeting showcased the substantial progress achieved halfway through the project cycle and reinforced the strong collaboration among partners. The MentBox consortium remains committed to co‑creating a comprehensive resource that will guide EU Member States in implementing effective, evidence‑based mental health interventions—particularly those addressing depression, suicide prevention, and non‑clinical mental distress.
We look forward to continuing this shared work and to the next steps toward delivering the MH‑Toolbox.

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