Mental health systems need to meet two related challenges: providing treatment and support which is personalised to the individual, and responding to environmental change. From the individual to the community and society levels, understanding context is pivotal in treating mental health problems and their psychosocial consequences. 

Methodological innovation is needed if we want to build better models for personalised care. Group-based outcomes do not identify strengths and vulnerabilities of the individual. New models and techniques are needed to understand the impact of daily life stressors and rewards, and how these link to relapse and resilience. Such approaches need to be dynamic and embedded in real-life experiences.

At the community level, new demands are emerging. Changing legislation, financial pressures, the influx of refugees across Europe and broader socio-economic challenges all place pressure on community-based mental health systems to develop preventive interventions, harness the power of communities, and optimise the provision of effective and personalised treatments. New emerging technologies allow us to recast the concept of the ‘community’, offering opportunities to share knowledge and experience and to offer a broader range of acre. These are necessary to meet the challenges of the growing mental health burden in society.

The 2017 conference builds on the trajectory established in previous ENMESH conferences, from an initial focus on theoretical clarity and measurement approaches, through to epidemiological studies and the evaluation of innovative interventions and service models. The themes for Groningen 2017 reflect a further maturing of the field, with a focus on individualising and contextualising care. These themes reflect the reality that the best mental health care involves blending professional expertise with lived experience, and the importance of moving beyond invariant solutions to context-specific and culturally-sensitive approaches.