After the launch of the SHARE 2.0 initiative by the European Commission earlier in the year, and the thematic Community of Practice event on Health was held on June 26, focusing on promoting mental well-being in and through sport. This was the second SHARE 2.0 COP event, following the COP on the topics of Green and Sustainable Sport in mid June.

Participants were welcomed on behalf of DG EAC and the Sport Unit by Stefano Pinto, who presented the Steering Group of the CoP on Health and introduced the choice of mental health as the main topic and announced the 5 initiatives to be shared within the event.

Michelle Tanner and Lisa Cafferky presented the Mind Body Boost project, developed and coordinated by the University of Trinity College, Dublin also included in an Erasmus Plus Sport project, completed in 2023. The project focused on a six-week intervention programme to improve physical and mental health and well-being of the students, especially targeting those with low physical activity presenting some mental health challenges.

Tabea Werner and Laura-Maria Lehiste presented the HealthyLifeStyle4All Youth Ideas Labs, an initiative of the European Commission in the European Year of Youth 2022, where 30 young participants gathered in three in-person meetings and online, to generate ideas and solutions on how to ensure Healthy Lifestyle for everyone and present the youth voice at major EU Sport events. Tabea, as a youth participant, shared some research in the area of sports and mental health and importance of addressing the topic without stigma or taboo. A need to improve the mental health literacy of everyone, not only the athletes but also the coaches, the volunteers and the people working in sports related field has been identified.

A comprehensive approach to mental health was presented by Stefan Craenen from DG SANTE. The comprehensive approach to mental health from this DG, emphasises the need to place mental health on par with physical health. The initiative, adopted a year ago, aims to take a comprehensive approach to mental health, looking beyond public health aspects and considering other sectors that impact people’s mental health. The initiative was developed in close cooperation with Member States, stakeholders, and citizens. This also includes funding opportunities for mental health initiatives.

A practical project on Judo for Intellectual Disability Project (JIDP) was presented by Jose Morales, having the initiative focus on people with autistic disorders. The project encouraged social inclusion and equal opportunities in sport, developed good practice guidelines for coaches and organisers of judo competitions. The project also involved scientific publications where improvements were explained in psychosocial abilities and improvements in fitness for people with intellectual disabilities.

Valerio di Tommaso from ECOS on behalf of the European Alliance for Sport and Mental Health (EASMH) discussed the importance of sport in mental health, focusing on people with mental health disorders. The project aimed to create a sport-based integrated recovery model for the rehabilitation of people with mental disorders and trained sports technicians to work with people with psychiatric disorders, emphasising the importance of understanding mental disorders and the effects of psychotropic drugs. Outcomes of the project are also used by the European Psychiatric Association (EPA).

After each presentation there was also a chance for discussion, and exchange of opinions. The main in-person SHARE 2.0 conference is planned for September 11 in Brussels. For more information, please visit https://sport.ec.europa.eu/initiatives/share-20.

European University Sports Association (EUSA) is a member of the SHARE 2.0 initiative, and is represented in the COP on Health by Andrej Pisl, the Projects and Policy Manager. On the topic of mental health, EUSA with its Institute is coordinating the project Youth Individual Sports Mindset (YouMind). Together with our project partners, we are working on improving mental health with young athletes.