Members of Working Group 3 (WG3) of the YouthDMH COST Action have been working to advance research and collaboration on contextual assessment technologies for young people’s mental health. Through a series of meetings, participatory workshops and research activities, WG3 is contributing to a better understanding of how digital technologies can support the assessment of young people’s mental health needs and inform more personalised interventions.
WG3 members met at Thomas More University, at the Thomas More Campus National in Antwerp, on 24 June 2026, followed by a meeting in Málaga on 16 October 2026. These meetings provided opportunities to exchange ideas, coordinate ongoing activities and discuss progress towards the group’s research objectives.
Exploring contextual assessment technologies through collaborative workshops
WG3 has organised workshops involving Management Committee members, stakeholders and young people to explore the design of future technologies for contextual assessment and early interventions.
The workshops brought together different perspectives to identify relevant needs and challenges and inform the development of youth-oriented digital technologies. The workshop materials have been published on Zenodo and are available here.
Advancing research through a systematic review and European survey
Alongside its collaborative activities, WG3 is conducting research to strengthen the evidence base for contextual assessment in youth mental health.
A systematic review of digital tools for contextual assessment in youth mental health is currently being finalised. The review examines different data streams, mental disorders and symptoms, adherence, and design features, synthesising existing evidence on assessment approaches to inform the development of personalised interventions.
In parallel, WG3 has conducted a European survey involving 1,398 young people aged 18 to 24 across 11 countries. The survey explored young people’s perspectives on digital mental health and AI tools, self-assessment, early help-seeking, and the perceived benefits and risks of these technologies.
Strengthening collaboration and advancing YouthDMH objectives
These activities reflect WG3’s contribution to the wider YouthDMH COST Action, bringing together research, stakeholder engagement and the perspectives of young people to advance the development of digital mental health technologies.
By combining evidence from existing research with insights from young people and other stakeholders, WG3 aims to contribute to the design of contextual assessment approaches that better reflect young people’s needs, experiences and circumstances.
YouthDMH looks forward to building on this progress and continuing to advance research and collaboration through the collective efforts of its Working Group members.
