InnerWorlds at the INTED2026 Conference, Valencia (Spain)

During the conference, Dr. Markella Grigoriou, from the Department of Psychology at the University of Limassol, and Rubén García Vidal, Project Manager of the Institute of New Imaging Technologies (INIT) at Universitat Jaume I, presented the InnerWorlds initiative through both an oral presentation and a scientific poster. Their presentation introduced the project’s innovative approach to addressing adolescent mental health through a serious video game that integrates psychological techniques with engaging gameplay mechanics. The talk highlighted how the project bridges psychology, digital technology, and educational practice, creating a tool designed not only to raise awareness but also to strengthen resilience and emotional understanding among young people aged 12 to 18.

The participation in INTED provided an excellent opportunity to share the project’s conceptual framework with an international community of researchers, educators, and technology experts. Discussions during the conference and the poster presentation emphasized the importance of combining evidence-based psychological methodologies with interactive digital environments, demonstrating how serious games can become meaningful tools for promoting well-being within educational ecosystems.

At the same time, the project is progressing through an important stage of development. All partners across the consortium are currently conducting co-design and co-creation activities in their respective countries, actively involving young people and relevant stakeholders in shaping the future InnerWorlds experience. These participatory workshops are essential to ensure that the game reflects the real needs, expectations, and experiences of adolescents. The insights gathered from these activities will soon be consolidated and shared with the wider community. These results will form the scaffolding for the development of the InnerWorlds video game, providing the narrative structure, interaction design, and psychological framework that will guide the creation of the final digital experience.

As the project moves forward, the consortium looks forward to sharing the outcomes of this collaborative work and continuing the dialogue with educators, researchers, and mental health professionals across Europe. The participation at INTED marks an important step in this journey, reinforcing the project’s commitment to combining research, technology, and participatory design to create innovative tools that support the mental well-being of young people.