D.O.T
In May 2017 Kate won a place at the Ludwig Boltzman Society’s “Ideas Lab”, an open innovation in science initiative aiming to deliver the mental health research that is most important for society. Kate connected with with Adam Barnard (self-employed playwright, theatre director, filmmaker and journalist, UK), Dr João Dias (INESC-ID and Instituto Superior Técnico, University of Lisbon, Portugal), Dr Marija Mitic (Ludwig Boltzman Society, Austria), and Dr Beate Schank (Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences & Ludwig Boltzman Society, Austria). The team conceived the project Die Offene Tür (The Open Door) and we were awarded €3 million euros to support it. The D.O.T. project is a four-year research program about strengthening connections between young people. We need good connections with our peers to stay healthy and happy. These links can be lost at times of change, such as the transition from primary to secondary school, especially when young people face challenges elsewhere. In D.O.T. we’re seeking to understand what affects social connectedness, and how best to help at-risk young people get the support they need from their peers. We are also developing a digital and in-school programme to support each individual young person to develop their social connections in the way that is going to be most helpful for them.
