"COOL MIND"- A Study of Mental Health in Schools

Cool Mind
Project Overview
Project Goal
To develop and validate methods for detecting symptoms and depressive tendencies in adolescents through a serious, digital, and science-based game, designed for use in school environments.
Main Areas of Action
Study and map students’ mental health.

Support public schools with guidance on the prevention and management of socio-emotional and mental health challenges.

Address care and intervention in situations of imminent risk, including suicide prevention.

Specific Objectives
Verify the internal consistency and reliability of the digital version of the tests.

Conduct hypothetical analyses.

Develop and validate a method based on image selection to track depressive tendencies.

Validate computerized cognitive assessment methods for screening depressive conditions.

Developments and Innovations
Cool Mind has also been adapted into a board game format, offering students an interactive experience beyond the digital environment. This physical version maintains the same purpose of supporting mental health assessment while fostering moments of listening, exchange, and reflection.
In addition to its practical applications, the project team remains committed to ongoing scientific research and continuous improvement, seeking new ways to make the game increasingly effective, accessible, and sensitive to the realities of public schools and the adolescents they serve.
One of the highlights of this quarter was the participation of Caminho de Triskel, in both board and digital versions, at the Brasil Game Show (BGS) in October 2025. Developed by the Instituto Alpha Lumen under the Cabeça Legal project, the game promotes dialogue and self-awareness, helping to identify signs of depression and suicide risk among young people.
The IAL psychology team continues to apply the game in public schools to validate it as a tool for mapping the mental health of children and adolescents. This initiative contributes to the early identification of psychological issues and provides a foundation for developing prevention, referral, and care strategies for young populations—who currently face high rates of psychological distress, often underreported.

Links:

• https://www.alphalumen.org.br/

Project Objective

To develop and validate methods for tracking symptoms and depressive tendencies in adolescents through a serious, digital, and scientifically based game, designed for application in school environments.

Areas of Focus

• To study and map students’ mental health.
  
  
• To support public schools by providing guidance on the prevention and management of socio-emotional and mental health challenges.
  
  
• The project also addresses care and intervention strategies in situations of imminent risk, such as suicide prevention.
  
  

Specific Objectives

• To assess the internal consistency and reliability of the digital versions of the tests.
  
  
• To conduct hypothetical analyses.
  
  
• To develop and validate a method based on image selection for tracking depressive tendencies.
  
  
• To validate computerized cognitive assessment methods for screening depressive conditions.
  
  

Developments and Innovations

The Cool Mind project was also adapted into a board game format, offering students an interactive experience distinct from the digital environment. This physical version maintains the goal of contributing to mental health assessment while encouraging moments of listening, exchange, and reflection.

In addition to its practical applications, the project team remains committed to scientific research and continuous improvement, constantly seeking new ways to make the game more effective, accessible, and responsive to the realities of public schools and the adolescents they serve.

Links:

• https://www.alphalumen.org.br/