TEAM, a new €4 million research and training network focused on developing new technologies that can support mental health services for young people, was formally announced today.
TEAM (Technology Enabled Mental Health for Young People) is an Innovation Training Network (ITN) funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions initiative. The programme will run from November 1st 2016 to October 31st 2020, with the formal launch event taking place on November 22nd 2016 in University College Dublin.
TEAM will be led by University College Dublin. It involves nine funded partners:
- two not-for-profit organisations (The Anna Freud Centre, ReachOut Ireland);
- two university hospitals (Medical University Vienna, Psychiatric Centre Copenhagen),
- four further academic institutions (Technical University of Denmark, Technical University Vienna, University College Dublin, University of Glasgow);
- one industry research laboratory (Telefonica Research and Development).
"Technology can play an important role in improving mental health services. It is unique for TEAM that it has the appropriate balance of mental health experts, computer scientists and designers. "
Dr. David Coyle, TEAM project manager at University College Dublin
TEAM will also collaborate closely with additional partners including national mental health charities and innovative technology companies. The network spans five countries: Austria, Denmark, Ireland, Spain and the UK. TEAM will provide a unique doctoral training and research platform for 15 PhD students.
What will TEAM do?
There is no health without mental health. Unfortunately, international studies conclude that many people experiencing mental health difficulties do not have access to appropriate support. Young people have been identified as particularly vulnerable and requiring specific attention. Research suggests that 50% of mental disorders emerge by 14 years. Untreated, difficulties at a young age also triple the likelihood of further difficulties in later life.
TEAM brings together an interdisciplinary network of mental health experts, computer scientists, designers and policy experts. The overall objective of the network is to train a new generation of researchers who can help to deliver more effective, more affordable and more accessible mental health services for young people. The focus will be on the design, development and evaluation of new technology-enabled mental health services.
The TEAM research program is built around four key themes: assessment, prevention, treatment and policy. It aims to deliver new technologies that can support rapid, large-scale and early assessment, prevention and treatment of mental health difficulties in young people. To help realise the potential of technology in this area, whilst also addressing the potential risks, TEAM will also investigate policy directions and guidelines for technologies designed to support youth mental health.