University of Jaén professor Luis Joaquín García and researcher Jesús Sánchez met with Avedis Donabedian University Institute researcher Helena Vall to present projects such as PROCARE, PROADEMO, Digitas and the PROEMO roadmap.
22/1/2024.- The professor of the University of Jaén (UJA) and main responsible of the Network for the Promotion of Adolescent Health and Emotional Wellbeing (PROEMO (RED2022-134247-T) Luis Joaquín García, and the researcher of the UJA, Jesús Sánchez held a working meeting with the researcher of the Avedis Donabedian University Institute, Helena Vall.
The aim of the meeting was to explore the establishment of synergies between both entities, whose researchers are integrated within the Research Network on Chronicity, Primary Care and Prevention and Health Promotion (RICAPPS), around the health and emotional well-being of young people.
In this regard, Luis Joaquín García presented several of the initiatives under the umbrella of the PROEMO Network, such as PROCARE, PROADEMO and Digitas, as well as the draft roadmap for 2025, aimed at detecting current gaps and providing new recommendations on child and youth health.
In this way, the head of the PROEMO Network explained the keys to PROCARE (‘Selective prevention through a transdiagnostic intervention for adolescents at risk of emotional problems’), a pioneering initiative worldwide in the field of prevention and personalized medicine, since it is the first selective prevention program aimed at adolescents between 12 and 18 years of age at risk of suffering emotional problems.
In turn, he furthered the objectives of the PROADEMO project (‘PROmocionAnDo la salud y el bienestar EMOcional de los adolescentes en el sector educativo, sanitario y la sociedad’), based on the preparation of useful materials and tools for educational, health and youth information personnel, as well as for the adolescents themselves, with the aim of improving the quality of the services offered in the field of adolescent emotional wellbeing and increasing emotional literacy.
Lastly, he addressed Digitas, which seeks to promote literacy in adolescent mental health through the creation of videos, podcasts or sound fiction documentaries, among other tools.
Helena Vall is part of the Avedis Donabedian University Institute, established in 2006 as part of the Avedis Donabedian Foundation (FAD), founded in 1989. The Avedis Donabedian Institute is linked to the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB). The main purpose of this entity is to act as a meeting point and a nexus of collaboration and rapprochement between the university and academic world, citizens, professionals and the Administration to improve the quality of health and social care. As for the FAD’s most important lines of research, they highlight person-centered care, the effectiveness of change strategies and the involvement and motivation of professionals.
The researcher from the Avedis Donabedian University Institute showed her interest in “knowing in depth the scientific impact of initiatives such as PROCARE”. Likewise, Helena Vall and Luis Joaquín García agreed to evaluate the possible synergies with the PROEMO Network in the framework of the RICAPPS Network, to try to apply for common projects at national or European level, as well as to explore the possibility of stays of researchers who are part of both teams.
