Technological and Social Innovation for Mental Health
With all the developments and challenges in the healthcare and social domain, being able to adapt in innovative ways is critical. Especially in a world of changing social relationships, client demands, and the multitude of technological developments. Social and technological innovations have enormous potential to improve the quality of care and promote (self-)support regarding mental health.
Many of us will remember the year 2022 as the year of crises. After the world and also the Netherlands crawled out of the coronavirus crisis after 2 years, there were numerous things that immediately gripped the world. Tightness in the labor market, the nitrogen crisis, the energy crisis, and a war on European soil which indirectly contributed to energy prices going through the roof.
With all these challenges, the mental well-being of the Dutch is a domain that deserves much attention. The difficulties in the labor market and the increasing number of people who are having a hard time mentally require innovative solutions. Social and technological innovations have great potential to improve the quality of care on the one hand and, on the other, to respond to the prevention of mental problems requiring care by focusing precisely on promoting health, both physical and mental. In 2022, this shift in thinking—from illness and care to health and behavior—has been central to the developments and projects initiated. Together with social partners, research questions are formulated that lead to useful and impactful knowledge, as for example in the project ForWart in which culture is used as a tool for social transformation. In addition, attention is paid to light and lifestyle to promote mental health, and research is focused on the environment of people with mental vulnerability in the knowledge that the pressure on informal caregivers will increase significantly in the coming years. Also, this year, with the arrival of Brigitte Boon as endowed professor, there has been a strong focus on research on technology in care for people with disabilities, for example in the PhD research into the use of "smart incontinence materials.”
Finally, in 2022, IMH also makes strong connections to other disciplines and Schools within the university. IMH links up with the university-wide Academic Collaborative Center Digital Health and Mental Wellbeing. Connected to the overarching theme of Well-being, this workshop is researching new digital technologies that can support people with maintaining mental well-being and a healthy lifestyle.
The endowed chairs
Inaugural address Brigitte Boon on July 1, 2022 titled "Towards a natural use of technology in disability care. This chair is established by Siza and Academy Het Dorp.
Eveline Wouters' chair has been extended for a second 5-year term in 2022.
PhD defenses
Cathelijn Tjaden received her PhD on February 4, 2022, for the thesis Better Together - On Meaning, Effectiveness and Costs of Resource groups for People with Severe Mental Illness.
Frank van Gool received his PhD on March 25, 2022 for the thesis Keep it complex. How organizations in mental health care create flexibility as a permanent and pro-active attitude.
Maarten Houben received his PhD cum laude on November 1, 2022, for the thesis Design for Everyday Sounds in Dementia.
University Collaborative Center Digital Health and Mental Well-being
The faces of IMH
From left to right: Prof. Eveline Wouters, Ylva Hendriks MSc, Ellen van Lieshout MSc, Astrid Huijgen MSc, Else Treffers MSc, Karin Lorenz MSc, Aafke Coopmans MSc, Vivette van Cooten MSc, Dr. Marieke van Egmond, Carolien Burghout MANP, Robin van den Kieboom MSc, Prof. Brigitte Boon, Prof. Inge Bongers, Joyce Bierbooms, Inge Braspenning MSc
Not pictured: Michel Duinkerke MSc, Dr. engineer Lena van Gastel, Dr. Frank Gool, Maarten Houben, Rachel Jacobs, Ingrid van Loon, Els De Maeijer, Dr. Liselore Snaphaan, Lydia Willemse MSc, Stijn Wopereis MSc
More IMH:
Tranzo Pearl | Flexibility in healthcare institutions
Flexibility in mental health care is important given various social trends. A program has been developed that encourages this flexibility.
Read more
