ASPbelong

This edition of the #MentalHealthDialogues will explore how digital mental health solutions can reduce stigma among vulnerable groups in Europe.

The ASPbelong Project will share the case of Lina, our game designed to support European youth in fostering a sense of belonging.

You can now register for the upcoming #MentalHealthDialogues webinar ✨

📅 7 October 2025 | 11:00–12:30 CET

📍 Online (Zoom) – Registration: ucph-ku.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

🎤 Our team members, Adam and Gloria, will be at the @ucdgearyinst.bsky.social talking about the immersive classroom experience 'Lina'.

📅 Join us on October 7th at 1PM!

🔗 More info: www.ucd.ie/geary/newsev...

@gloriamit.bsky.social #ASPbelong #HelpingKidsLab #AcademicSky #Lina #MentalHealth

Hi there! 👋 We’re ASPbelong a project funded by the European Union and Horizon Europe. We design collaborative immersive experiences that bring young people together, strengthen mental health, and foster a deep sense of belonging and connectedness. ✨
We’d be thrilled to be part of your starter pack!

Hi there! 👋 We’re ASPbelong a project funded by the European Union and Horizon Europe. We design collaborative immersive experiences that bring young people together, strengthen mental health, and foster a deep sense of belonging and connectedness. ✨
We’d be thrilled to be part of your starter pack!

#ASP𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 #Project #HorizonEurope #UKRI #LINA #UCD #MeetTheTeam #MentalHealth #YouthWellbeing #Dissemination #Growth #HelpingKidsLab #Research

💙 The team aims to ensure ASP𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 reaches the right people in engaging ways across the UK and Europe. Laura and Méabh bring rich psychological expertise to the project.

Thanks to their leadership, we’re able to boost the reach and impact of ASP𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 across Europe! 📣

👋 Say hello to Laura Taylor and Méabh Finnegan at the Helping Kids! Lab, University College Dublin School of Psychology, who are leading Dissemination and Stakeholder Engagement for ASP𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨.

#ASPbelong #aspbelong #SocialPsych #mentalhealth #AcademicSky #dissemination

Augmented Social Play Collaborative immersive experiences that bring young people together.

Interested in learning more about ASPbelong? Check out their site to see more about this exciting initiative! 📱🎧 #ASPbelong #DevPsy #SocialPsych #AcademicSky #PhDSky
@aspbelong.bsky.social

www.augmentedsocialplay.com#about-2

What beliefs prevent people from implementing helpful interventions? To learn more about potential barriers to mental health initiatives in schools, read Méabh Finnegan’s section of the ASPbelong newsletter here. ⬇️ @aspbelong.bsky.social #ASPbelong

www.augmentedsocialplay.com/updates/from...

Hi there! 👋 We’re ASPbelong a project funded by the European Union and Horizon Europe. We design collaborative immersive experiences that bring young people together, strengthen mental health, and foster a deep sense of belonging and connectedness. ✨
We’d be thrilled to be part of your starter pack!

Hi there! 👋 We’re ASPbelong a project funded by the European Union and Horizon Europe. We design collaborative immersive experiences that bring young people together, strengthen mental health, and foster a deep sense of belonging and connectedness. ✨
We’d be thrilled to be part of your starter pack!

Hi there! 👋 We’re ASPbelong a project funded by the European Union and Horizon Europe. We design collaborative immersive experiences that bring young people together, strengthen mental health, and foster a deep sense of belonging and connectedness. ✨
We’d be thrilled to be part of your starter pack!

Hi there! 👋 We’re ASPbelong a project funded by the European Union and Horizon Europe. We design collaborative immersive experiences that bring young people together, strengthen mental health, and foster a deep sense of belonging and connectedness. ✨
We’d be thrilled to be part of your starter pack!

Hi there! 👋 We’re ASPbelong a project funded by the European Union and Horizon Europe. We design collaborative immersive experiences that bring young people together, strengthen mental health, and foster a deep sense of belonging and connectedness. ✨
We’d be thrilled to be part of your starter pack!

Hi there! 👋 We’re ASPbelong a project funded by the European Union and Horizon Europe. We design collaborative immersive experiences that bring young people together, strengthen mental health, and foster a deep sense of belonging and connectedness. ✨
We’d be thrilled to be part of your starter pack!

Hi there! 👋 We’re ASPbelong a project funded by the European Union and Horizon Europe. Wedesign collaborative immersive experiences that bring young people together, strengthen mental health, and foster a deep sense of belonging and connectedness. ✨
We’d be thrilled to be part of your starter pack!

🚨 Webinar tomorrow! 🚨

🗓️ Feb 4 | ⏰ 10:00 GMT / 11:00 CEST

Our colleague Dr. Valeria Motta, a philosopher specializing in loneliness & empathy, will explore the vital role of young people in research!

Together with our sister EU projects.

📢 Register: lnkd.in/dRaKwEZz

Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: Mental health for all: how to reach vulnerable groups in research. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar. Join us on 4th of February 2025, Tuesday at 11AM (Central European Time) for another interactive discussion in our Mental Health Dialogues. This webinar series is jointly organised by 7 big EU sister ...

📢 Join us on February 4, 2025, at 11 AM CET for Mental Health for All, the 3rd session in
#MentalHealthDialogues
webinar series! 🌍

We'll explore strategies to engage vulnerable groups in research. Co-hosted by 7 Horizon Europe sister projects.

🔗 Register here: ucph-ku.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

In 2024, we fostered creativity & belonging through cultural exchanges in Czechia, the UK & Portugal. Our final exchange in Portugal was unforgettable:

🎮 Playtesting our first episode
📖 Exploring Lina’s Diary
🎧 Curating playlists
🎨 Artwork & 🎭 drama games
🧗 Adventure park fun

Here’s to 2025!

4) Listening to Vulnerable Adolescents: We also speak with vulnerable young people to better understand their needs. Their input will help us design more inclusive and empathetic experiences in further stages of our project. 💡❤️

3) Co-Development Group at Unicorn Theatre: Throughout 2024, our partner Unicorn Theatre hosted Saturday workshops with young Londoners (aged 12–13) to explore and develop various themes from the Lina game. 🎭

2) Adolescent Co-Researchers: We meet regularly with a dedicated group of older teenagers from several countries who discuss project-related issues and enrich our work by sharing their perspectives. 🙌

1) Youth Exchanges: In 2024, we hosted three cultural exchanges for 12–13-year-olds in the UK, Czechia, and Portugal. Our young participants shared invaluable insights, telling us what they loved (and didn’t!) about playing our alpha builds. 🎮✨ #EduTech #EduSky

Despite our expertise in creating immersive experiences for teens, we know we can’t fully grasp what it’s like to grow up today. That’s why we work closely with young people to hear their voices and gain valuable feedback. Curious how it works? 🧵

No matter our race, sexuality, background, or upbringing, we are all human—each of us seeking warmth and a safe place where we feel like we truly belong 🫶

#aspbelong #belonging #safespace #youngpeople #mentalhealth

Gamified Digital Mental Health Interventions for Young People: Scoping Review of Ethical Aspects During Development and Implementation Background: Young people are particularly at risk of developing mental health problems, a challenge exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Digital tools such as apps and chatbots show promise in provid...

🚨 New Pub Alert! 🚨

Excited to share our OA article:

Gamified Digital Mental Health Interventions for Young People: Scoping Review of Ethical Aspects During Development and Implementation

By Wanda Spahl, Valeria Motta, Kate Woodcock & Giovanni Rubeis.

👉 games.jmir.org/2024/1/e64488

#EduTech

Phillipson to ask schools to end exam ‘tunnel vision’ and look to wellbeing Exclusive: Education secretary to tell schools in England pupils need sense of belonging, as attendance declines

Behind all our efforts in technical, academic or artistic fields lies our ultimate goal: helping young people feel more connected to their classmates and more content in their lives. 🌈🍀

Delighted to see the UK government prioritise student wellbeing and belonging alongside academic success!

Want to enjoy a glimpse of LINA’s atmosphere? 🎮 Watch our talented composer Peter Michaels perform a short piece from the LINA soundtrack at his album launch in London’s Lauderdale House. 🎹

YouTube video by ACM SIGCHI LINA – A Social Augmented Reality Game Around Mental Health, Supporting Real-World Connection And...

WHERE IT STARTED: Before #ASPbelong, several of our colleagues co-developed LINA, an AR game for kids (10–13) to solve a classmate's disappearance through puzzles 🧩, teamwork 🤝, theatre 🎭 & AR 📱—while fostering mental health awareness.

LINA 2.0 and much more is on the way!

🎥 youtu.be/pB7AO5WPmKQ