Net&Me BootStRaP

The BootStRaP Bootcamp (Nov 7-10) in Porto was a huge success! Ambassadors, teachers, and researchers came together to shape a new mental health intervention app. From social activities to in-depth sessions on emotional regulation and impulse control, every moment was inspiring! #BootStRaPBootcamp #MentalHealthInnovation #Wellbeing #EYMH

🎙 Professor Wellsted David shared on BBC Three Counties Radio about "Switch off, Play On Café", its mission to encourage healthier digital habits and its connection to the broader BootStRaP project. 🏢 Switch off, Play On Café An innovative pop-up initiative by the University of Hertfordshire is set to open next week at The Galleria in Hatfield, Hertfordshire. This project is part of ongoing research on problematic internet use and its impact on mental health and well-being, especially among children and adolescents. 📆 Half-Term Opening The café, open during the half-term, provides families with a space to disconnect from mobile technology and enjoy traditional, interactive games. It serves as an educational hub, offering resources on the latest research regarding the effects of mobile technology. 🎙 Interview Highlights In his interview, Professor David Wellsted shared insights on how the café is designed to help both parents and children tackle excessive technology use. The initiative encourages healthier relationships with digital devices, providing activities and tools to engage with the world outside screens. Families can also access a free downloadable booklet with tips on managing technology use. 🌍 Broader Initiative: Horizon Europe Program The café is linked to a broader initiative under the Horizon Europe Program project BootStRaP, involving schools in Hertfordshire. Using an app, the project aims to evaluate how children aged 12 to 16 interact with their devices, helping researchers better understand and predict problematic behaviors. The ultimate goal is to guide young people towards healthier digital habits. 💡 Discussing the café’s mission, Professor Wellsted highlighted the challenges mobile technology presents, including its addictive qualities and its role in issues like gambling addiction and social media overuse. He underscored the importance of both individual behavioral changes and the need for governmental policies to regulate technology usage, particularly by companies that often prioritize profit over user well-being. Festival of Social Science: https://lnkd.in/dGqwZFSX Join us!

We are happy to announce that our Net&Me BootStRaP project member Prof. Hans-Jürgen Rumpf from Universität zu Lübeck is a panelist at Mental Health Dialogues, a webinar series, jointly organized by 7 huge EU Horizon Europe projects on ‘Mental Health in Times of Change’. This webinar will address various concerns about integrating digital technologies to promote mental health and well-being. We will delve deep into ways of addressing data privacy concerns, algorithmic bias, and human oversight over digital technologies. Join us on October 4th at 11:00 CEST for an interactive discussion about digital applications in mental health.

Thrilled to have taken part last night at “Alieni” Codice Barbara Carfagna Rai 1 where we discussed the proliferation of digital addictions and other mental health challenges affecting the Generation Z Net&Me BootStRaP UniTrento DIPSCO University of Hertfordshire Bootstrap - the full episode is available from here https://lnkd.in/d4mg6Y_i

We are excited to share that the BootStrap Project is approaching a significant milestone: the launch of BootstrApp, an advanced mobile application aimed at promoting safe and healthy internet use among adolescents. This app, developed through extensive research and collaboration across 14 countries, will soon engage nearly 10,000 teenagers across Europe in a groundbreaking study. BootstrApp will not only collect crucial data on internet usage and mental health but will also evolve to include intervention features designed to enhance the digital well-being of young people. Led by Prof. Dr. Christian Montag, our dedicated team is poised to make a lasting impact on adolescent mental health in the digital age. Prof. Dr Christian Montag is a renowned expert in cyberpsychology with extensive experience in mobile application development, the team includes Christopher Kannen, a skilled software developer and designer currently pursuing his PhD at Ulm University, and Nana Löchner, a project manager and UX/UI designer with a strong background in adolescent digital behaviour research. We look forward to the app’s release in September, marking a new chapter in our project and a significant step forward in fostering healthier online behaviors.

An update from the 2024 ICBA 📚 Zsolt Demetrovics and Andrea Czako organized the recent ICBA 2024 conference, where experts from the BootStRaP project presented their most recent research findings. The presentations highlighted innovative approaches to understanding and addressing problematic internet use, focusing on enhancing mental health in our digitizing world. Please take a look at the snapshot of the main points and findings that our BootStRaP team discussed during the congress! #BootStRaP #ICBA2024 #DigitalWellbeing

Curious about how brain science is tackling problematic internet use? Explore the latest insights from Australian Professor Murat Yücel at QIMR Berghofer. They are pioneering mechanistic brain testing to uncover the neurocognitive mechanisms behind excessive internet use. As Professor Yücel notes, QIMR Berghofer is a global leader in this field, crucial for investigating the cognitive and brain mechanisms driving problematic behaviour. By identifying specific neurocognitive mechanisms, BootStRaP research scientists aim to identify adolescents at risk and design targeted prevention strategies. Dive into the full article to learn how our research could shape healthier digital habits for the future. #Net&MeBootStRaP #BootStRaPNationalNEWS #ProfessorMuratYucel #TheNationalTribune #AustraliaNet&MeBootStRaP BootStRaP: Boosting Societal Adaptation and Mental Health in a Rapidly Digitizing Post-Pandemic Europe. 

With the onset of European Mental Health Awareness Week (May 13–19), we are pleased to announce the commencement of BootStRaP project communication in participating countries. We have announced: ▶ The BootStRaP project spans across 14 countries and uses smart technology to promote mental health while addressing the problems associated with excessive internet usage among young people. 🎯 "Our primary aim is to mitigate the adverse effects of digitalization on the mental health of young individuals," says Professor Naomi A. Fineberg, the leader of the BootStRaP project. ▶ "We will formulate guidelines for healthier internet use and determine how behavioural changes can reduce risks and prevent problematic usage of the internet from developing," adds Professor Dr. Jose M. Menchon, a researcher leading the Societal and Policy Change group in the project.   Please find out more about how together we shape a safer and healthier digital landscape—a future where technology enhances well-being rather than detracts from it!

Are you interested in delving into the transformative realm of co-creation within mental health research? Join us for an insightful webinar featuring Prof. Celia Sales, a driving force behind the BootStRaP project, as she shares invaluable insights. In today's rapidly evolving landscape, bridging the chasm between scientific knowledge and real-world experiences is imperative. Co-creation methodologies stand as pivotal tools in reshaping mental health research. Prof. Celia Sales from Universidade do Porto will illuminate how these methodologies fundamentally alter the field. 🤝 Curious about the nuanced application of co-creation across varied research settings? 🔬 Wondering about the emphasis placed on well-being within Horizon Europe projects? 💡 Keen to explore best practices for future initiatives? This webinar, collaboratively organized by seven esteemed EU Horizon Europe projects (ADVANCE Mental Health, MentBest, Reconnected project, IMPROVA Project EU, ASP-Belong (https://lnkd.in/d6j3HY-s), HorizonSMILE, and Net&Me BootStRaP), offers fresh perspectives and firsthand experiences from practitioners and individuals with lived experiences. Don't miss out on this opportunity to delve into the realm of co-creation and its profound impact on mental health research. Save the date and register now! 📅 #MentalHealth #HorizonEurope  #SisterProjects #Net&MeBootStraP

🟠How do you know if behaviors around technology use have become problematic or classifies as an addiction? 🟠What's under the umbrella term Problematic Use of the Internet (PUI)? 🟠Why problematic use of the internet is considered to be a rising and heavy burden on humanity's shoulders? These questions were discussed by Naomi Fineberg, Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Hertfordshire, MBBS, MA, MRCPsych together with child and adolescent psychiatrists, researchers and a parent with her own lived experience participated. The discussion was hosted by Children and Screens: Institute of Digital Media and Child Development, in the webinar #AskTheExperts. 🟠This discussion was the first public transatlantic conversation where the BootStRaP project was mentioned. Please check the link to the thoughts Prof. Naomi Fineberg has shared as well as the link to the whole discussion. We are grateful for Children and Screens: Institute of Digital Media and Child Development for addressing these compelling questions about the impact of digitalization on the health of children.