Istituto Europeo di Oncologia

ALTHEA

tAckLing menTal Health cancer patients and their families: digital solutions for bEtter cAre

ABOUT ALTHEA

An estimated 1 in 20 Europeans has now faced a cancer diagnosis.

This disease not only takes a toll on the body but also weighs heavily on mental health. Patients undergoing cancer treatment as well as survivors,

after their treatment, often face a cascade of psychological and cognitive challenges, including anxiety, depression, fear, and uncertainty. This can severely impact the quality of life for patients, their families and caregivers.

Unfortunately, psychological support is often lacking due to inequalities in access and the lingering stigma surrounding mental health. Many patients, especially those from underserved regions or disadvantaged backgrounds, do not receive adequate mental health screening or care.

ALTHEA works to address these issues.

Solutions exist. Systematic mental health screening ensures that patients are given timely access to psychological support. And early intervention is key. By recognising warning signs, healthcare professionals can intervene sooner, preventing emotional distress from escalating and providing more personalised care.

ALTHEA aims to provide high-quality, remote, psychological support through digital platforms. By designing software that can be easily used on simple devices, we ensure that the tool is accessible in remote regions and to those with limited access to technology.

Beyond supporting patients, ALTHEA will develop guidance and best practices for oncology professionals, promoting a collaborative approach between them and mental health professionals. By cementing mental health support in the cancer pathway, ALTHEA is setting a new standard for comprehensive cancer care.

ALTHEA CONSORTIUM

The Althea consortium is composed of 29 partners around Europe. Coordinator: P.I. Prof. Gabriella Pravettoni., Ph.D. European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milan, Italy

Clinical centers will test the Althea platform. Contribute actively in designing and developing the solution, map disparities in mental health care, and provide clinical recommendations.
Executive committee will monitor and supervise all aspects of the project's progress, encompassing scientific, technical, and administrative components
Scientific, Stakeholder and Technical steering committee will provide feedback on the main findings and research activities along the entire project, and actively collaborate in drafting the requested guidelines.
Patient advocacy, ethics, legal and regulation oversight committee will provide feedback on the main findings and research activities throughout the entire project. It will provide important advice regarding the contents and the design of the Althea Platform, and contribute to patients' engagement.
Research consultative partners will provide advice and feedback on research procedures and methodologies.
Platform design consultative partners will provide valuable insights, guidance, and recommendations regarding the platform's content, functionality, scalability, and performance.
Technology experts will develop, maintain, and evaluate the Althea platform, ensuring it meets the highest standards of technical excellence and research rigor
Partners responsible for dissemination will provide the dissemination of the Althea project and research results worldwide.

Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

This project is co-funded under the EU4Health Programme 2021–2027 under grant agreement no. 101161236.

Consortium

Scientific Publications

Events

Kick-off Meeting - September 30th - October 1st, 2024 at the European Institute of Oncology in Milan

The kick-off meeting for our project took place on September 30^th to October 1^st, 2024 at the European Institute of Oncology IRCCS (Milan, Italy). This collaborative gathering brought together the consortium members to discuss essential project tasks, the description of work packages, and key deliverables. Participants engaged in meaningful conversations about opportunities for collaboration and strategies for workflow improvement. This meeting set a solid foundation for the project's success and strengthened the partnership among all involved.

ALTHEA Consortium Meeting: 24^th-25^th November 2025 at the European Institute of Oncology in Milan

In November, the first Consortium Meeting of the ALTHEA project was held at the European Institute of Oncology.
On this occasion, the ALTHEA consortium partners presented the activities carried out during the project’s first year. During the event, next objectives and future studies were defined with experts from all over Europe.

ESMO AI & Digital Oncology Congress: 12^th-14^th November 2025 in Berlin

In November, a study included in the ALTHEA project took part in the ESMO AI & Digital Oncology congress. On this occasion, a poster titled “A Digital Platform for Psycho-Cognitive Assessment and Support in Oncology” was presented by Dr. Ilaria Durosini (Researcher at the IEO and University of Milan), describing the results of a study held with Italian cancer patients, caregivers, and healthcare providers to collect their opinions on the challenges of accessing psychological support and their preferences regarding a digital mental health platform.

4^th Collaborative meeting - EU-funded Projects on Mental Health and Cancer Care: 1^st - 2^nd of July 2025 - Cyprus University of Technology Campus (Cyprus)

In July the fourth edition of the event Collaborative meeting - EU-funded Projects on Mental Health and Cancer Care was held in Cyprus.

At this meeting, innovative ideas and strategies to promote mental health in the oncological field were shared. Researchers involved in EU-funded projects discussed approaches to build synergies, increase the effectiveness and dissemination of project results, and promote long-term sustainability.

On this date, the ALTHEA project - coordinated by the Psycho-oncology Division of our Institute - was introduced, emphasizing the critical role of psychological assessment and the promotion of emotional well-being following a cancer diagnosis, with the aid of digital technologies.

On the second day, ALTHEA took part in a roundtable discussion on improving psychological support for cancer patients, with the aim to strengthen collaborative efforts across European projects. Objectives and outcomes of different projects were presented and participants discussed the challenges and opportunities in integrating mental health services into cancer care at European and national levels.

2^nd Forum on Cancer Synergies – Policy, Research and Funding Strategies: 30^th of June – 1^st of July 2025, Athens, Greece

On 30^th of June and 1^st of July the second Forum on Cancer Synergies, organized by the Hellenic Cancer Federation (ELLOK), was held in Athens.

The forum bring together stakeholders from across Europe to highlight the opportunities, challenges, and actions that can lead to more effective cancer control and management, exploring collaborative strategies to promote the well-being of people involved in the cancer journey.

On this occasion, the ALTHEA project was presented, which aims to develop a web-based platform to assess possible emotional and psychological difficulties following a cancer diagnosis, providing access to educational materials and psychological support services. The platform will be addressed to cancer patients as well as to all the people who support them in their cancer journey (family members, caregivers and healthcare professionals).

PARTNERSHIP

MAIN CREDITS

IRCCS - ISTITUTO DI RICOVERO E CURA A CARATTERE SCIENTIFICO

Where research becomes treatment in real time

Consortium

Scientific Publications

Events