Webinar - The Social Determinants of Mental Health – A Population Approach to Promotion and Prevention

Mental health is not merely the absence of illness—it is shaped by the environments we live in, the policies we experience, and the social ties that support us. As rates of mental health difficulties rise across Europe, addressing the social determinants of mental health has become a public health priority. This webinar explores how socioeconomic factors and global events (e.g. housing, education, employment, climate change, and global crises) fundamentally shape mental wellbeing—and how a population-based, preventive approach can help create resilient, healthier communities.

Drawing on the EFPA Mental Health Promotion & Prevention Toolkit, we will explore practical strategies for transforming systems at the individual, community, and societal levels. Learn how psychologists, health professionals, and policy makers can co-create supportive environments, implement evidence-informed interventions, and adopt a “Mental Health in All Policies” approach to tackle inequality and foster wellbeing across the lifespan.

Whether you’re a decision-maker, practitioner, or advocate, this session offers vital insights on building a more equitable mental health future—starting from the ground up.

About the speaker:

Ana Rita Oliveira Goes teaches at the NOVA National School of Public Health in Portugal. With a background in Psychology and Public Health, she teaches in the areas of qualitative methods, health promotion, and health communication. She has been researching topics related to health promotion, focusing on the contribution of socio-behavioral sciences. Her areas of interest include health literacy, understanding the health needs of vulnerable populations, using participatory approaches and combining qualitative and quantitative methods. She has published several articles in journals and has published two books.

Resources:

Presentation of the speaker and recording available here :