Periodic Reporting for period 1 - IMPROVA (e-Intervention Enhancing Mental Health in Adolescents)
Reporting period: 2023-04-01 to 2024-09-30
The e-Intervention Enhancing Mental Health in Adolescents (IMPROVA) project addresses a pressing need to improve adolescent mental health and well-being through the development of a eHealth platform. The platform offers psychoeducation about mental health issues and preventive strategies of common mental disorders in adolescents, co-designed with stakeholders including adolescents, parents, teachers, school health professionals, and policymakers.IMPROVA brings together an international and interdisciplinary consortium of researchers and practitioners from health, education, social, and computer sciences. The platform is based on evidence obtained from over 20 previous research projects, and will provide adolescents, parents, and educators, with information about different topics with the aim of providing a holistic approach to mental health. Few interventions involve such a comprehensive strategy which focusses on promoting adolescents' mental health both directly (via the direct use of the platform) and indirectly (via the effect that the platform has on those close to them, i.e. families and educators).The platform will be tested and evaluated through formal scientific research conducted in secondary schools across France, Germany, Romania, and Spain, involving 12,800 adolescents. Effectiveness and cost-benefit of the platform will be assessed, with a focus on scaling up the platform through collaboration with policymakers. If successful, the project will have a major impact on adolescents' mental health given its extensive scalability potential. IMPROVA aims to empower adolescents and families, reduce stigma surrounding mental health, and provide schools and communities with tools to promote better mental health. The project's multidisciplinary approach, bringing together fields of psychology, technology with social sciences to work in local contexts, ensures a culturally and contextually sensitive approach, crucial for its success and scalability across regions.
In the first 18 months of the project, the development of the IMPROVA platform has been successfully completed. This will serve as the primary tool for delivering the intervention aimed at improving adolescent mental health. The platform consists of 20 modules for adolescents, each focusing on specific topics related to mental health, such as emotional regulation, stress management, and resilience. In addition, we have developed 7 modules for teachers and educators, designed to provide guidance on supporting student mental wellbeing and identifying early warning signs of mental disorders. We also have an information website which contains additional resources on mental health to complement the platform. All the materials have been culturally adapted and translated into Spanish, English, Catalan, German, and Romanian, ensuring that the content is relevant and accessible to the diverse populations participating in the project. This adaptation process involved careful review and modification to align with the cultural and linguistic contexts of each country, enhancing the platform’s access across different regions. Furthermore, the recruitment process of secondary schools in France, Germany, Romania, and Spain, started in Autumn 2024. These schools will participate in a scientific study which will evaluate if the IMPROVA platform is effective in improving adolescent mental health and well-being. This recruitment process is ongoing, and we anticipate full enrolment shortly, positioning us to begin the research as planned.
The IMPROVA platform has already accomplished significant achievements with the creation of culturally adapted and translated mental health modules for adolescents, teachers, and educators in multiple languages (Spanish, English, Catalan, German, and Romanian). These modules are tailored to address key mental health topics , such as emotional regulation and stress management, while empowering educators to better support students. The expected impacts of the platform are wide-ranging, with the potential to improve adolescent mental well-being, reduce stigma surrounding mental health, and equip schools with the tools necessary for early detection and prevention of common mental disorders. In order to maximise potential uptake and project success, the following requirements must be addressed:
1. Further Research: Long-term studies to assess the sustained impact of the platform on mental health outcomes, particularly across different cultural contexts.
2. Demonstration Projects: Expansion to additional schools and regions to demonstrate scalability and adaptability in diverse educational settings.
3. Access to Markets and Finance: Securing funding to support broader dissemination and implementation of the platform across more schools and regions.
4. Commercialisation and IPR Support: Developing strategies for the commercialisation of the platform while protecting intellectual property rights to ensure sustainable growth.
5. Regulatory Support: Working with policymakers to establish supportive frameworks that enable smooth integration of the platform into school systems.
With these elements in place, IMPROVA has the potential to make a lasting contribution to adolescent mental health at both national and international levels.
1. Further Research: Long-term studies to assess the sustained impact of the platform on mental health outcomes, particularly across different cultural contexts.
2. Demonstration Projects: Expansion to additional schools and regions to demonstrate scalability and adaptability in diverse educational settings.
3. Access to Markets and Finance: Securing funding to support broader dissemination and implementation of the platform across more schools and regions.
4. Commercialisation and IPR Support: Developing strategies for the commercialisation of the platform while protecting intellectual property rights to ensure sustainable growth.
5. Regulatory Support: Working with policymakers to establish supportive frameworks that enable smooth integration of the platform into school systems.
With these elements in place, IMPROVA has the potential to make a lasting contribution to adolescent mental health at both national and international levels.