The Euro-Arab Foundation actively participates in the analysis of mental health in radicalisation processes, investigating how these factors can lead a person to become a “lone actor.” While this has been a subject of study for some time, the EU Knowledge Hub decided to create a thematic panel of experts dedicated exclusively to deepening the understanding of individuals who act alone in European Union member states, their connections with other online actors and groups, and their relationship with mental health problems.
The Research Secretariat of this panel rests exclusively with a Euro-Arab team made up of researchers: Paula Cano Cruz, José Luis Salido Medina, and Soukaina Belkat. The main objective is to understand how to identify these individuals to prevent violent acts, clarifying the concept of “lone actors” to strengthen cooperation at the EU level. The work is based on existing research and addresses how lone actors become radicalised, the role of mental health in radicalisation, the connection between these individuals and the online world (including indicators for their identification), and the best practices for cooperation and prevention.
Paula Cano Cruz is a researcher at the Euro-Arab Foundation in the field of hate speech, ideologies, and extremist movements. Sukaina Belkat is also a researcher at the Foundation and has worked as a mediator. For his part, José Luis Salido, a researcher at the Foundation and project manager, specialises in radicalisation and extremist movements.
You can find more information on the European Knowledge Centre for the Prevention of Radicalisation page: Thematic Panel 5 – Lone Actors and Mental Health Issues.
