Global Forum on the Ethics of AI: Changing the Landscape of AI Governance
February 5 – 6, 2024. Brdo pri kranju, Slovenia
The SMILE project and its ethical considerations on developing digital solutions for youth mental health, was prominently featured at the Global Forum on the Ethics of AI – Changing the Landscape of AI Governance. Hosted by the Slovenian Ministry of Digital Transformation under the patronage of UNESCO, the forum brought together a diverse range of stakeholders to explore the ethical implications of Artificial Intelligence.
The University of Maribor presented SMILE’s approach and emphasised the importance of ethical considerations when working on international collaborations and digital solutions designed to support children and adolescents facing the challenges of modern society.
The SMILE project presentation served a twofold purpose. Firstly, it highlighted the European perspective on the ethical application of AI in the context of youth mental health. Secondly, it served as a powerful reminder of the urgency for ethical solutions, given the pressing need to address the mental well-being of our younger generation.
The University of Maribor’s presentation showed how technology, when guided by strong ethical principles, can be harnessed to create a positive impact on the mental health of our youth. Furthermore, the forum provided a valuable platform to foster international collaboration and exchange diverse perspectives on the ethical dimensions of AI in relation to child and adolescent mental health.
Joint Congress – Società Italiana di Psichiatria & Associazione Italiana di Psicogeriatria
February 9, 2024 , Modena, Italy
The SMILE project continues to gain momentum across Europe, with this impactful presentation at this prestigious event that brought together leading figures in the field of mental health to discuss advancements and best practices.
IRCCS – Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria di Bologna showcased the SMILE project’s innovative approach to improving youth mental health, focusing on how early intervention and effective support can have a lasting positive impact on young people’s well-being. The presentation delved into the far-reaching benefits of the SMILE project for society as a whole.
By prioritising youth mental health, we can cultivate a generation of resilient and thriving individuals, ultimately fostering a stronger and more vibrant future. A key theme of the presentation was raising awareness about anxiety, a prevalent challenge faced by young people today. The SMILE project’s commitment to addressing this issue resonated strongly with the audience, highlighting the project’s valuable contribution to improving youth mental health outcomes, and its aim to empower a generation of resilient individuals.
Green Mission for Climate
March 20, 2024 Maribor, Slovenia
The SMILE project recognises the critical connection between mental health and environmental well-being.
Organised by the Municipality of Maribor, the Green Mission for Climate was a platform for the University of Maribor to present the SMILE project, highlighting its focus on mental health impact on young people in the face of global climate change. The discussions on children’s expectations and needs in a world grappling with climate challenges fostered an open dialogue and understanding.
Key Takeaways:
- The vital link between mental health and environmental well-being.
- The importance of addressing climate change concerns for children and youth.
- Empowering young people to be active participants in building a sustainable future.
SMILE is proud to support initiatives like Green Mission for Climate that promote environmental consciousness and prioritise the well-being of future generations.
The 10th Asian Conference on Aging & Gerontology (AGen 2024)
March 25 – 29, 2024. Tokyo, Japan
The SMILE project is thrilled to have participated in the prestigious 10th Asian Conference on Aging & Gerontology (AGen 2024), a conference organized by The International Academic Forum (IAFOR). This important event brought together researchers, policymakers, journalists, and editorial managers to discuss critical issues related to aging and gerontology.
IRCCS – Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria di Bologna presented the SMILE project and its potential for promoting successful aging in a rapidly evolving digital society. The presentation, titled „Successful aging in a faster digital society: a Tech-human health framework for gamification and Digital Games Applications“ explored an innovative tech-human health framework leveraging the power of gamification and digital games. The presentation delved into how this framework can contribute to enhancing physical, cognitive, and social well-being among young people and beyond. This approach holds immense promise for empowering individuals to thrive in a world increasingly influenced by technology.
Key Takeaways:
- The potential of gamification and digital games to promote healthy living.
- The importance of a tech-human health framework for holistic well-being among young people and beyond.
- Fostering engagement and social connection through innovative digital solutions.
SMILE is committed to exploring the potential of technology to improve the mental well-being of individuals at an early stage of life.
The 28th International Conference on Circuits, Systems, Communications, and Computers (CSCC)
July 19 – 22, 2024. Heraklion, Crete Island, Greece.
The University of Maribor presented its work on developing and integrating NER models and HL7 FHIR server at the 28th International Conference on Circuits, Systems, Communications, and Computers (CSCC). These advancements highlight the ongoing research and development efforts within the SMILE project.
Our Partner presented significant advancements in developing NER models to extract symptoms in Slovenian. This paves the way for future multilingual support within the SMILE application, enabling sophisticated symptom extraction capabilities for various languages.
The team also presented on the development and integration of the HL7 FHIR server, which will store SMILE user-related data and services results as FHIR resources. This, coupled with other SMILE partners‘ components, will provide standardised and secure storage of integrated data. This interoperability ensures seamless integration of different components within the SMILE ecosystem and guarantees data security.
Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Conference (DGKJP Kongress)
September 18 – 21, 2024. Rostock, Germany.
The SMILE project was proudly represented at the DGKJP Congress 2024, a renowned event that gathers experts in child and adolescent psychiatry from across Germany and beyond. Our partner, Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg (UKH), attended the congress to present a poster detailing the key findings from SMILE focus groups, which engaged children, adolescents, and young adults
During the presentation, our partner highlighted the SMILE project’s innovative approach to integrating digital tools and mental health support, emphasising the voices of young people in shaping the future of mental health care. The findings from the focus groups, which explored themes such as access to care, personal well-being, and digital solutions, resonated deeply with the audience. The presentation was met with great enthusiasm, as the engaging design of the SMILE poster (in german) and the SMILE logo received significant praise.
Our team’s efforts were further recognised with a Poster Prize, awarded by the congress organisers. This acknowledgment celebrates both the design and the impactful content of the presentation. We are thrilled to have had the opportunity to share our work at such a high-profile event and grateful for the recognition of the SMILE project’s contribution to advancing mental health care for young people.