Shift

Digital games to help improve young people's mental health

One in four people will be affected by a mental health disorder at some point in their lives, half of which start by the age of 14.

Shift will develop digital game technology to help young people strengthen their emotional resilience and manage stress, with the ultimate result of increasing their well-being and reducing the incidence of mental health problems. Using a combination of a wearable wristband sensor and Android game technology, the game monitors the players heart rate and rewards players who stay calm under pressure. Shift will further develop and launch the game, as well as create a program for schools to utilise it in well-being training programmes. In three years, Shift's digital game will train 35,000 young people to strengthen their emotional resilience and improve their mental health.

Photo courtesy of Finn Taylor