Three scaling-up projects within the Healthy Society Program have started.

Three scaling-up projects were selected earlier this year for a grant from the Healthy Society Program. This funding aims to implement successful, scientifically proven initiatives on a larger scale, with the goal of achieving a broad societal impact on health and well-being.

The Healthy Society Program focuses on improving health and well-being across all segments of the population and reducing health disparities in South Holland. Its mission is to create a resilient society in which all people are as mentally, physically, and socially healthy as possible. Within the program, universities, universities of applied sciences, and academic medical centers collaborate with a wide range of societal partners, governments, residents, and healthcare and welfare organizations in the delta region. Last year, the rollout of concrete health projects began within six themes.

Each consortium receiving a grant consists of at least two academic partners (a university, university of applied sciences, or academic medical center) and one non-academic partner (such as a municipality, healthcare organization, or company). Additionally, collaboration with societal partners and the involvement of end users are central to these scaling-up projects.

Virtual Reality Acceptance – Innovative Care for Youth

SHINE-VR is a Virtual Reality intervention designed to help young people and young adults cope with difficult situations. Originally developed for youth who have experienced sexual abuse, the intervention is now being adapted and scaled up for young people with a loved one struggling with addiction or mental health issues.

Project leaders Carlijn Bergwerff, Jane Sattoe, Dorine van Namen, and Geert Bruinen are working on this adaptation through a co-creation process with young people to ensure SHINE-VR meets their specific needs. The project promotes resilience, self-compassion, and acceptance and is carried out in collaboration with the Municipality of Rotterdam and mental health institutions Youz and Indigo.

Involved organizations include Leiden University, Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences, Municipality of Rotterdam, Indigo, and YOUZ. The scaling-up project falls under Healthy Society Theme 1: Growing up resilient and happy from an integrated perspective.

Hypertension in Menopausal Women

With the project Meno-pressure personalized, project leaders Jeanine Roeters van Lennep, Petra Siemonsma, Caroline Figueroa, and Luuk Simons are developing a personalized version of the Blood Pressure Challenge program. This program specifically targets peri- and postmenopausal women, with extra attention given to women from different cultural and socio-economic backgrounds. The program helps women lower their blood pressure and reduce health inequalities. Together with the target group and partners such as the patient organization Vrouwenhart and the company Health Coach Program, they are working on an intervention that enables broad implementation.

Involved organizations include Erasmus MC, Leiden University of Applied Sciences, TU Delft, Health Coach Program BV, and Stichting Vrouwenhart. The scaling-up project falls under Healthy Society Theme 3: Personalized solutions for healthy behavior.

Access to healthy, plant-based food

The Medical Delta program CUPIDO focuses on raising awareness and improving access to healthy food, particularly among young people such as schoolchildren and students. Project leaders Machteld van Lieshout, Sanne de Vries, Jessica Kiefte-de Jong, and Natasja van der Lely are scaling up proven educational programs that promote healthy, plant-based nutrition. These programs are being implemented at various locations in South Holland and North Holland, such as schools and universities. Data on the impact on awareness, attitudes, and behavior is being collected and shared. The results will serve as the basis for further scaling up, with the aim of increasing awareness of healthy, sustainable food among a broad audience.

Involved organizations include The Hague University of Applied Sciences, LUMC Health Campus The Hague, Greenport West-Holland, ISW secondary school community, John Dewey College, Hotelschool The Hague, the Province of South Holland, GGD Haaglanden, and the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs' Young Learning to Eat program. The scaling-up project falls under Healthy Society Theme 6: Healthy nutrition and food environment.

With these scaling-up projects, the Healthy Society Program brings together science, businesses, healthcare organizations, government, and users. By working on concrete solutions that address the needs of specific target groups and neighborhoods, it contributes to a healthier, more inclusive society.