The Greek Carers Network EPIONI proudly participated in the I-ACT (Innovating Art Community Therapies) Erasmus+ small scale project, a groundbreaking 16-month European initiative that concluded in June 2025. This transformative collaboration brought together three organizations to revolutionize mental health care through innovative art therapy approaches.
From February 2024 to June 2025, EPIONI worked alongside the Centre Psychiatrique Saint-Bernard in Belgium and the Danish Committee for Health Education. This partnership combined our expertise in caregiver support with clinical experience and health education knowledge, creating a powerful synergy for developing art therapy innovations.
The project began with a memorable kick-off meeting in Manage, Belgium on March 8, 2024, where we established the foundation for our collaboration. Throughout the 16 months, we maintained excellent communication through regular monthly meetings, WhatsApp consultations, and shared resources that enabled seamless cooperation despite geographical distances.
We gained valuable expertise in organizing structured art therapy programs and learned innovative approaches to involving civil society in mental health care. Our partnership enriched our understanding of different cultural approaches to mental health support, expanding our toolkit while developing more effective methods for reducing stigma through artistic expression.
The collaboration produced a comprehensive multilingual guide on developing art therapy festivals and culminated in the successful international art therapy festival at the Centre Psychiatrique Saint-Bernard which took place April 8th 2025, demonstrating the practical application of our shared learnings.
As we move forward, we remain committed to using these valuable resources to support caregivers and individuals with mental health challenges across Greece, while continuing to build bridges with our European partners in the spirit of solidarity and shared purpose.
The I-ACT project was co-funded by the European Union through the Erasmus+ Adult Education Programme, demonstrating the power of European collaboration in addressing mental health challenges.