A Problem Shared…
CoAct for Mental Health is transforming the approach to mental health care by placing individuals with lived experiences and their families at the centre of innovation. This groundbreaking citizen science project aligns with the World Health Organisation’s call for community-based mental health solutions, emphasising the vital role of social support networks in recovery and quality of life.
At its heart is the CoActuem per la Salut Mental Telegram Chatbot, co-designed by 32 Co-Researchers—people with mental health challenges and their families. Through this chatbot, hundreds of micro-stories have been shared, offering firsthand insights into social interactions with family, friends, coworkers, and neighbours.
The chatbot is a safe, private space for participants to contribute their experiences and feedback, as well as hear the stories of others. Over several years, it has gathered valuable data on how social support networks aid recovery and combat social exclusion. Co-researchers have also played a key role in interpreting this data, culminating in 14 actionable recommendations presented to policymakers at local and European levels.
The CoAct for Mental Health project was presented with the Digital Communities Award at the 2024 European Union Prize for Citizen Science. In this IMPETUS interview, we talk to Josep Perello and Amanda Figueras about the development of the project, how they worked with co-researchers to develop the app and the featured mental health stories, and the impact this chat-bot has had on these communities and learning more about the support networks available.
Learn more about their inspiring work here:
Watch the full interview here:
