IIII Technology Exploration Day

The TECSAM Network and Mental Health Catalonia promoted a reflection and co-creation session to explore how to incorporate the voice and lived experience of people in research and technological innovation projects in mental health.
The conference, held within the framework of Mental Health Week 2026 at the Sant Joan de Déu Health Park , brought together people with lived experience, professionals, researchers and other agents linked to mental health and technological innovation.

During the session, experiences were shared and barriers, opportunities and proposals were identified to move towards more significant participation of people with lived experience throughout the different phases of research projects.

Àngel Urbina, Vice-President of Mental Health Catalonia , shared his experience and vision on the participation of people with lived experience in research and innovation projects. Next, researcher Victòria Espinosa presented the co-Elna project (Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu, Mental Health Catalonia, TECSAM Network) as an example of a project that incorporates lived experience in research.

The participants worked in 2 groups to identify the main elements that could facilitate or hinder the participation of people with lived experience in research, as well as specific proposals to make this participation effective.