CUPID COST project

Dear Colleagues,
The CUPID Final Conference is approaching, and we are looking forward to welcoming you very soon.
Please note that, due to technical and organizational reasons, the Zoom link for the conference has been changed. We kindly ask all participants to register again using the new registration link provided below:

Registration Link:
https://setu-ie.zoom.us/j/97292799559

We apologize for any inconvenience this change may cause and appreciate your understanding and cooperation.

We look forward to your participation in the conference.

🎉 Final CUPID Conference – Join Us!

We are delighted to invite you to the Final CUPID Conference, taking place on 23–24 June 2026 in Brussels, Belgium.
The conference will bring together researchers, professionals, stakeholders, and experts from across Europe for two inspiring days of collaboration, knowledge exchange, and discussion of the achievements and impact of the CUPID project.

📍 Venue: Brussels, Belgium
💻 Online Participation: Join via Zoom by scanning the QR code shown in the conference poster.

Don't miss this opportunity to learn about the project's key outcomes, share experiences, and engage with colleagues committed to advancing research, innovation, and international collaboration.
We look forward to celebrating the successful completion of the CUPID project with you!

Mental illness is now officially the leading cause of disability worldwide.

With more than one in seven people globally living with a mental disorder, mental illness has officially become the world's leading cause of disability.

A comprehensive new analysis published in The Lancet has delivered a sobering milestone: mental illness is now the primary driver of disability worldwide. According to the Global Burden of Disease 2023 study, more than 1.17 billion people—roughly one in seven people on Earth—were living with a mental health condition in 2023. Since 1990, the global burden of these disorders has surged by a staggering 95.5%. Even after adjusting for population growth and aging, the rise remains sharp across nearly every region of the globe. Anxiety and major depression are leading this quiet epidemic, which erodes quality of life over years and decades rather than claiming lives immediately.

The crisis is hitting vulnerable groups the hardest, with the burden peaking among teenagers aged 15 to 19—a critical phase of neurological development. Women are also disproportionately affected due to a complex web of biological, social, and economic pressures. Far from being a luxury problem of wealthy nations, the rise in mental disorders is a global phenomenon fueled by social isolation, economic insecurity, pandemic aftereffects, and modern stressors. As health systems struggle to expand services proportionally, researchers warn that society can no longer ignore the immense toll of these non-fatal but deeply debilitating conditions.

source: GBD 2023 Mental Disorder Collaborators. (2026). Updated trends in the global prevalence and burden of mental disorders, 1990–2023: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2023. The Lancet, 407(10543), 2040-2064.

On May 27, 2026, we organized a Lunch & Learn webinar featuring Dr. Vera Dimitrievska, who delivered a presentation entitled “Doing Research Right: Ethical Standards in Practice.” The webinar focused on ethical approaches to research involving persons with disabilities within the context of cancer care and support.

The session addressed key ethical principles, including informed consent, inclusion, dignity, confidentiality, and accessible research practices. Particular emphasis was placed on the importance of maintaining high ethical standards in order to enhance both the quality of research and the protection of participants’ rights and well-being.

The webinar was intended for researchers, healthcare professionals, representatives of civil society organizations, and other stakeholders working at the intersection of cancer and disability.

Only one month to go until the final CUPID Conference!

Join us on June 23–24 in Brussels (via Zoom) for two inspiring days of collaboration, knowledge exchange, and discussions with experts and researchers from across Europe.

We look forward to celebrating the achievements and impact of the CUPID project together!

Join our webinar “Doing Research Right: Ethical Standards in Practice”, focused on ethical approaches to research involving people with disabilities in the field of cancer care and support. The session will explore key principles of informed consent, inclusion, dignity, confidentiality, and accessible research practices, highlighting how ethical standards can strengthen both the quality of research and the protection of participants’ rights. The webinar is intended for researchers, healthcare professionals, civil society organizations, and all stakeholders working at the intersection of cancer and disability.
ZOOM link: https://setu-ie.zoom.us/j/96459549518

Members of Working Group 3 (WG3) of the Project met at in upon Tyne from 19–20 May 2026 to discuss and develop a research agenda aimed at creating -wide cancer prevention guidelines for people with intellectual disabilities.