On 10 February 2026, the CARE+CONNECT partners met in Warsaw, Poland, for the project’s first Transnational Project Meeting (TPM).

This meeting marked an important step in moving from planning to action. During the session, partners worked together to agree on the next stages of the project and to begin shaping the development of the two core components: the CARE digital mental health programme and the CONNECT peer support framework.

Discussions focused on defining the structure and timeline for developing the CARE online iCBT course, ensuring that it is accessible, evidence-based, and tailored to the needs of higher education students. Partners also began outlining the CONNECT programme, which will establish peer support networks within universities and introduce Conversation Cafés as safe spaces for open dialogue about mental health.

The meeting also allowed partners to align communication and dissemination plans, as well as upcoming milestones for 2026.

Work on the first CARE modules and CONNECT training materials will now begin, with pilot activities and stakeholder engagement planned for later in the year.