EXperiMental: Wearable Technology and EXplainable AI for Mental Health and Inclusivity in Schools

Mental health is vital for overall well-being, especially during early adolescence, a period of rapid changes and increased susceptibility to mental health issues. Artificial intelligence (AI) and mobile sensing technologies offer new ways to monitor behavioral changes related to mental health, but their use in early adolescents is underexplored. This project will combine expertise from psychology and cognitive sciences (Dr. Juravle, Romania), biomedical and sports sciences (Dr. Soric, Croatia), mobile behavioral sensing and privacy (Dr. Langheinrich, Switzerland), and XAI and machine learning (Dr. Gjoreski, Switzerland).

Initially, young adolescents will participate in a co-design process to understand their views on mental health, digital interventions, AI, data sharing, ethics, and physical activity (PA). This will ensure the approach meets their needs. We will explore PA's role in enhancing mental health, identifying effective PA types and personalized nudges for beneficial behaviors.

Two subsequent longitudinal studies in Croatia and Romania will then involve 100 early adolescents each. Using smartphones, smartwatches, and standardized mental health questionnaires, we will collect sensor and ground-truth data to develop ML models that estimate mental health parameters and support individual mental health equilibrium. We will determine the minimum necessary data for personalization and optimal collection frequency using newly collected and existing data. Psychological assessments and comprehensive socio-demographic and sensor data will help tailor models to each individual's mental health profile.

In the third phase, interventions will be co-designed with youth, school psychologists, and teachers. These will be validated in a final study involving school psychologists from Romania and Croatia to ensure effectiveness, usability, and transferability.

Finally, guidelines will be developed for creating similar solutions to enhance mental health in early adolescents, promoting high ethical standards and broader application of AI and mobile sensing in mental health care. This project aims to advance the prevention and early detection of mental health issues in early adolescents, contributing to healthier and more resilient future generations.