EQUICARES

About the project

The EQUICARES project is a four-year Horizon Europe initiative dedicated to improving access to mental health and care services for people in vulnerable situations. It addresses persistent inequalities that limit access for groups such as migrants, people with disabilities, older adults, Roma, and LGBTQI+ communities by combining research, co-creation, and policy innovation.

EQUICARES uses advanced evaluation frameworks, digital ethnography, and computational social sciences to map barriers and identify effective solutions, which are tested across eight pilot regions in seven countries. Through Smart Health Labs and an AI-based Assistant, the project fosters community engagement, strengthens digital and mental health literacy, and co-designs tailored service models. By generating evidence-based insights and practical tools, EQUICARES supports policymakers, care providers, and communities in building more inclusive and sustainable mental health systems across Europe.