Net&Me Bootstrap

15/10/2026

Our panellist from EU Sister Project Arlinda Cerga Pashoja is an Associate Professor in Psychology and Director of the Research Centre for Applied Health and Wellbeing at St. Mary's University, , UK, and Principal Investigator on the EU-funded , and projects.

With over two decades of experience in NHS services, research and lecturing in mental health, her work bridges mental health science, digital innovation and evidence-based policy.

In , which takes a complex systems approach to understanding how global developments affect mental health, Arlinda leads the UK site focusing on migrants. The project develops empowering, non-stigmatizing digital interventions to strengthen mental health literacy, psychological resilience and social participation among vulnerable communities across Europe. She has recently led the development of the policy Paper Availability Is Not Accessibility, which sets out recommendations to improve migrant access to digital primary and mental health care in London.

📅 28 October 2026 🕚 11:00–12:30 CET
💻 Online (Zoom) Register: https://tinyurl.com/zoomREG8

WE are: Advance Mental Health Horizon SMILE Net&Me Bootstrap

Supported by the European Health and Digital Executive Agency ( ) and European Commission

14/10/2026

Our panellist from EU Sister Project Gentiana Qirjakois a Professor at the Faculty of Medicine, of Medicine, Tirana, where she serves as Head of the Department of Public Health.

She is a public health expert with more than two decades of experience in research, teaching, health promotion, and project management. She is currently involved in several international projects supported by the European Commission and international organisations, including World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF.

Her main areas of expertise include health promotion, mental health, child and adolescent health, and the development and implementation of evidence-based public health policies and interventions. She has contributed to the development of national public health policies in , including the National Programme for Su***de Prevention 2025–2030.

📅 28 October 2026 🕚 11:00–12:30 CET
💻 Online (Zoom) Register: https://tinyurl.com/zoomREG8

WE are: Advance Mental Health Horizon SMILE, and we, Net&Me Bootstrap

Supported by the European Health and Digital Executive Agency ( ) and European Commission

13/10/2026

Our panellist from Horizon SMILE Project, Helen Stocks

ℹ️ Helen Stocks is currently employed by Heriot-Watt University as part of the EU-funded Horizon SMILE project, where she focuses on digital mental health interventions for young people.

Her work brings together psychological research and principles with innovative technology to address challenges in mental health care. Helen holds an MSc in Psychological Research from The University of Edinburgh and has previous experience as an Enhanced Psychological Practitioner with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. Through her academic and professional experience, she has developed knowledge in mental health care and 🕹️.

Her interests centre on advancing accessible, person-centred digital mental health solutions, with a particular focus on using innovative approaches to improve mental health care for young people.

🎯 Save the date:
📅 28 October 2026 🕚 11:00–12:30 CET
💻 Online (Zoom). Register here: https://tinyurl.com/zoomREG8

We are sisters: Advance Mental Health Horizon SMILE , and we, Net&Me Bootstrap

Supported by the European Health and Digital Executive Agency ( ) and European Commission

10/10/2026

This year, the theme of World Mental Health Day is “Lived experiences heard: real voices, real change.” As we mark this important day, we are proud that the European Commission HaDEA-funded BootStRaP project is already making its first impact!

Our research into young people’s internet and smartphone use is not just about data — it’s about listening to young people, understanding their lived experiences, and helping them develop healthier ways to manage their digital lives.

BBC The One Show has been following BootStRaP from the start, and in this latest feature, they return to meet young people and families taking part in the project and explore what has changed after the first phase.

The experiences shared are powerful:
-->Young people describing becoming more conscious of how they use their smartphones
-->Spending more time on activities away from screens
-->Feeling more in control of their smartphone use
-->Recognising when “just one hour” can quickly become two
-->Learning strategies such as reflection and emotional regulation to help manage anxiety and develop healthier habits

As Professor Naomi A. Fineberg explains in the programme, more than a third of the young people in the first phase reported difficulty controlling their internet use, with those reporting difficulties also reporting higher symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress.

These are not simply statistics. Behind every number is a young person with a real experience: "I definitely feel more in control in terms of um the time I'm spending on it and I'm more focused on tasks that don't involve my phone." [Young BootStRaP App User].

That is why World Mental Health Day is an important moment to recognise the value of listening — to hear lived experiences, turn them into meaningful research, and ultimately use that knowledge to support positive change.

Watch the BBC The One Show feature on BootStRaP and hear the real voices behind the research.

May 29, 2026. The BootStRaP study was recently featured on BBC One’s “The One Show”, highlighting our ongoing work on problematic internet use among young people and the importance of evidence-based approaches to digital wellbeing. The programme included insights from the project coordinator, ...

09/10/2026

Our panellist from Sister Project Vítor Alexandre Coelho is a certified Specialist in Educational Psychology and holds a PhD in Educational Psychology by the University of Coimbra.

He coordinates the Positive Attitude project since 2004 and the Social and Emotional Adjustment research group of the Psychology for Positive Development Research Center. He has published over 50 articles on the topics of social emotional learning, bullying, professional issues and middle school transition.

He is currently a former president of the International School Psychology Association and the President-Elect of IAAP-Division 5 (School and Educational Psychology).

📅 28 October 2026
🕚 11:00–12:30 CET
💻 Online (Zoom). Share and register: https://tinyurl.com/zoomREG8

We are: Advance Mental Health Horizon SMILE, and we Net&Me Bootstrap

Supported by the European Health and Digital Executive Agency ( ) and European Commission

08/10/2026

Our panellist from Sister Project Advance Mental Health Liuska Sanna is the Operational Director at Mental Health Europe. She worked for over 16 years in rights-based international and European networks mainly in the health sector and in organisations focusing on children's and women’s rights.

She initially worked in the field of sexual reproductive health and rights with International Planned Parenthood Federation – European Network (IPPF EN) and subsequently as Programme Manager at the European Patients’ Forum. She worked prominently on patient involvement and empowerment, health inequalities, research and medicines’ development, eHealth and Health Technology Assessment (HTA).

Recently Liuska has been the Director of the End Female Ge***al Mutilation European Network and holds experience in association management. Additionally, she has expertise in strategic planning, programme development and management, policy and advocacy work, membership development and capacity building.

📅 28 October 2026
🕚 11:00–12:30 CET
💻 Online (Zoom)
Register: https://tinyurl.com/zoomREG8

WE are: Advance Mental Health Horizon SMILE, and we Net&Me Bootstrap

Supported by the European Health and Digital Executive Agency ( ) European Commission

07/10/2026

We are proud to share that Julius Burkauskas and Sophia Achab have been appointed as independent experts to the Council of Europe Drafting Committee on Risks and Harms of Online and Digital Addictions (BIO-ALN).

The Drafting Committee brings together a multidisciplinary group of experts with expertise in addiction studies, public health, regulatory practice, digital behaviour, and related fields. It will also work with relevant Council of Europe bodies, observer States, international organisations, civil society, and other partners to ensure a broad and informed perspective.

--> The first meeting is taking place today at the Council of Europe, marking the beginning of this important work.

The Committee is tasked with developing a Committee of Ministers Recommendation to Council of Europe member States addressing the risks and harms associated with online and digital addictions. The Recommendation will provide clear and comprehensive guidance on developing effective responses and regulatory frameworks concerning technology-related addictions, with a strong focus on protecting health, social well-being, and individual rights.

We wish Julius and Sophia a successful, productive, and impactful journey in this important work. Their expertise and contribution will help advance evidence-informed approaches to the challenges posed by our increasingly digital lives.

©Photo credit: Yannick Calmels Pompidou Group of the Council of Europe

07/10/2026

Meet the moderator

We are pleased to welcome Professor Jose M. Menchon as of our upcoming webinar, “Translating Networked Science into Evidence-Based Health Care Policy”.

Professor Menchon is a clinical psychiatrist, Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Barcelona, and Head of a Research Group at , Spain’s national mental health research network. His research focuses on compulsivity, obsessive-compulsive and related disorders, and mood disorders, with particular emphasis on treatment outcomes, risk factors, and translational research that bridges science and clinical practice.

Throughout his career, Professor Menchon has contributed to numerous national and international research initiatives and has played leading roles in major psychiatric organisations and networks, including the International College of Obsessive Compulsive Spectrum Disorders ( ) and the Obsessive Compulsive and Related Disorders Network ( ) of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ECNP).

As moderator, he will guide the discussion between Horizon Europe Sister projects, exploring how scientific evidence can be translated into effective mental health policy and create meaningful impact beyond academia.

📅 28 October 2026
🕚 11:00–12:30 CET
💻 Online (Zoom)
Register: https://tinyurl.com/zoomREG8

We are : Advance Mental Health Horizon SMILE and we, Net&Me Bootstrap

Supported by the European Health and Digital Executive Agency ( ) European Commission

07/10/2026

📢 SAVE THE DATE

Join us for the next Horizon Europe Sister Projects :
Translating Networked Science into Evidence-Based Health Care Policy

🗓️ 28 October 2026
🕚 11:00–12:30 CET
💻 Online (Zoom). Registration: https://tinyurl.com/zoomREG8

This webinar will bring together experts and researchers from Horizon Europe sister projects to explore how scientific evidence and collaborative research networks can contribute to effective mental health policy and evidence-based health care decision-making.

The event will showcase project achievements, key lessons learned, and practical insights into translating research into policy impact. Join us!

We are: Advance Mental Health Horizon SMILE and we, Net&Me Bootstrap

Supported by the European Health and Digital Executive Agency ( ) European Commission

01/10/2026

The first findings from BootStRaP were presented by Ornella Corazza, Innovation Manager and Policy Co-Lead, at in Rotterdam, during the session “International Efforts to Address Addictive or Problematic Usage of the Internet and Digital Technologies.”

Alongside Marc Potenza, who discussed problematic internet use in the United States, and Sophia Achab, who presented the forthcoming recommendations of The Lancet Commission, the discussion placed the mental health of young people and the impact of emerging evidence on policy-making at its core.

An important step in translating BootStRaP’s findings into evidence-informed policies that can better protect and promote young people’s mental health in an increasingly digital world.