Mental health encompasses how we feel, think, act, cope and relate to others. It contributes to overall health and quality of life. Poor mental conditions are frequent and exert a heavy health and economic burden on individuals, families and societies. For example, depression causes suffering and disability, sickness leave, unemployment and social inequalities.

Mental health research at Ghent University

PSYNC is a consortium committed to improving the mental health of every citizen. To this end, PSYNC sets up research projects in close collaboration with various partners, with a particular focus on achieving social impact and innovation.

PSYNC's objectives are:

• to take a life cycle perspective into account in relation to mental health
• to promote general knowledge about mental health aspects and to promote initiatives in this area
• to develop innovations to help people maintain good mental health
• to safeguard the ethical dimension in research and innovation relating to mental health
• to pay attention to vulnerable groups

PSYNC works together with various stakeholders. In order to carefully monitor important policy dossiers, various PSYNC promoters participate in the Mental Health Dossier Monitoring Working Group. The members of this working group are represented in various associations and decision-making bodies such as the Federal Council, the High Health Council and the Psychologists' Commission.

PSYNC also collaborates on Mensenkennis, a blog that aims to make scientific knowledge about psychology accessible to the general public, demonstrate the impact of psychology on various aspects of our daily lives and stimulate dialogue between science and practice.

More information: https://www.ugent.be/psync/