The Kalmer project, a mental health mobile application driven by the Consorci Sanitari de l'Anoia (CSA) to assist adolescents and young people with self-harm, has been selected as a finalist in the Digital Transformation subcategory of the "Impulse for Brain Health - WeMind Awards". These awards are organized by the Consorci de Salut i Social de Catalunya in collaboration with the WeMind Cluster. Developed as part of a study funded by La Marató de 3Cat in 2021, the tool aims to bring therapeutic support closer to moments of emotional distress occurring outside of therapy sessions.
The public can support Kalmer through popular voting, open until November 20th. The public vote will account for 10% of the final score, while the remaining 90% will be determined by an evaluation committee. The winning project will be announced at the closing gala of the Impulsa Program on November 26th.
Kalmer was created to bridge the gap between therapy sessions and real life, particularly during intense distress when young people need to apply learned strategies. Through brief assessments, the app collects information on the user's emotional state and context, proposing short, tailored interventions based on cognitive-behavioral and dialectical behavior therapy principles. These include strategies for emotional regulation, distress tolerance, mindfulness, self-compassion, interpersonal relationship management, and problem-solving.
Kalmer's unique value lies in linking present-moment assessment with a personalized intervention proposal, thereby facilitating the application of therapeutic skills when and where distress arises, as a complement to healthcare professional support.
The application was developed through a co-creation process involving young people with lived experience and healthcare professionals. Their input led to modifications in personalization, content, formats, and navigation to better meet the real needs of the target users. The associated research involves young people aged 14 to 24 and aims to evaluate its utility as a mental health support tool.
The project has received funding of over 398,000 euros from La Marató de 3Cat 2021, which was dedicated to mental health. The research is led by Dr. Daniel Vega Moreno, from the Mental Health and Addiction Service at CSA, with collaboration from various universities and research groups.
