Digitising mental health

Mental health and neurodevelopmental disorders are critical areas of research at Heriot-Watt University, led by Doctors Mel McKendrick and Theodore Lim. Their teams are focused on developing digital tools to advance the diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment of mental health conditions such as depression, autism, and Parkinson's disease.

The MIND Sense project is at the core of this research, developing a multisensory platform that uses non-invasive sensors to track changes in mental state. These real-time metrics are designed to help healthcare providers better understand conditions like Parkinson's and depression, offering more precise and data-driven insights. The team is also working on the MIND Map initiative, which seeks to curate comprehensive datasets that cross-reference neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative conditions, providing a more detailed understanding of comorbidities.

The use of immersive technologies, such as virtual and augmented reality, is another key focus, with the aim of developing gamified interventions that make mental health treatment more engaging. This innovative approach not only helps with diagnostics but also creates new avenues for personalised, effective interventions, improving mental health care for a wide range of conditions.

The Global Research Institute in Health and Care Technologies is dedicated to advancing solutions for some of the world’s most critical health challenges. By uniting researchers from across Heriot-Watt’s school-based institutes, this institute fosters a multidisciplinary environment where engineers, healthcare professionals, and scientists work together to deliver impactful health innovations. The institute also collaborates extensively with other global research institutes at Heriot-Watt, enhancing its capacity to drive forward research that improves patient care and health outcomes on a global scale.