Reaching the Unreachable: Population-Level Mental Health Promotion – Insights from the Prevention Innovation Lab at the German Center for Mental Health (DZPG)

Mental disorders in childhood and adolescence are as prevalent as in adulthood and represent a key predictor of mental health conditions in later life. Despite this, the majority of affected children and adolescents remain without adequate support, highlighting an urgent need for low-threshold, population-based approaches to prevention and early intervention. The Urban Mental Health (UMH) approach, developed at the Prevention Innovation Lab of the German Center for Mental Health (DZPG), aims to address this gap by integrating evidence-based interventions with real-world implementation strategies in urban settings. Drawing on systematic literature reviews and interdisciplinary expert workshops, prevention strategies are developed participatorily with stakeholders and experts by experience. The UMH approach is implemented through professionals, teachers, and everyday supporters across the living environments of children and adolescents – including schools, kindergartens, and youth welfare services. Continuous evaluation of all components enables a learning system that adapts to the specific needs of each institutional context. This presentation will additionally report first results from an effectiveness study using a quasi-experimental design, providing initial evidence for the impact of the UMH approach at the population level. A coalition of policymakers, researchers, and practitioners ensures that the approach can be scaled comprehensively and sustainably, with the long-term goals of enhancing population-level mental health and reducing the burden of mental disorders in young people.