Our mission
Mental health is an essential component of health; however depression and anxiety are common disorders across the European Union. Many people may be described as “living with” a mental illness, and managing their own symptoms. However, they are often unsure of the thresholds for treatment, how to control their mental health, what are the best coping strategies or which resources are available to them.
Conversational systems may facilitate watchful waiting and symptom monitoring, by initiating contact and symptom checking at various times of the day and night. The MENHIR project aims to research and develop conversational technologies to promote mental health and assist people with mental ill health (depression and anxiety) to manage their conditions.
The participants will exchange and share their expertise toward this common objective, building a network for exchanging ideas and knowledge between Spain, Germany, Italy and United Kingdom, including academic, non-profit organizations and companies. This will lead to improved training and career prospects for the participants, specially for early-stage researchers.
Objective
MENHIR will pursue objective symptom monitoring and relapse prevention for people with mental illness. Symptom monitoring, whereby the patient assesses and records their moods, behaviour, and symptoms over time, can provide clinicians with additional, real time, more ecologically valid information to inform treatment strategies and empower the client to manage their own mental health symptoms.
The MENHIR chatbot
24 - hour personalised social support
Coping strategies
Mental health education and signposting to online resources and local services.
Facilitates symptom and mood management and the identification of patterns that are indicative of relapse and recurrence
Benefits
MENHIR would offer an additional option for people who use psychotropic medications, reduce costs to health services; engage people in the management of self-care and provide a more flexible immediate and sustained alternative to under pressure health care systems.