ESRII Conference 2026 explores the role of AI and technology in mental health

The European Society for Research on Internet Interventions (ESRII) Conference 2026 brought together the international scientific community at Lusófona University - Porto University Centre on 9, 10 and 11 October.

The conference focuses on promoting the exchange of research on psychological interventions based on the internet and digital technologies, with the main aim of contributing to the development and implementation of the best possible approaches to supporting people in need.

Continuing the tradition of ESRII meetings, the event featured short, informative presentations on recent studies and took place in an informal, collaborative and non-hierarchical environment, highly conducive to the exchange of ideas and the development of professional networks among researchers.

Hosting this international meeting reinforces the strategic role of higher education institutions in discussing and promoting innovation and digital health in Europe. By bringing together experts, lecturers and early-career researchers in one forum for discussion, the initiative encouraged reflection on new cyberpsychological intervention methods and their direct impact on people's well-being.

The sessions offered to participants provided an opportunity to explore the effectiveness of different digital tools and how they can be applied in an accessible and inclusive way in real-world clinical practice.

During the conference, the chairs of the organising committee, Inês Jongenelen and Gerhard Andersson, discussed the future prospects of the field and the significance of hosting this scientific meeting. Gerhard Andersson highlighted the strong presence of Artificial Intelligence and tools such as virtual reality in several of the papers presented at the conference. However, he emphasised that the future of research depends on finding solutions that people feel comfortable with: "Clearly, we need to find technology that people like and can benefit from. I can give the example of virtual reality, which is exciting, but not everyone likes it. The same applies to Artificial Intelligence." He also stressed that ethical requirements are safeguards that must never be compromised.

In turn, Inês Jongenelen, Director of the Faculty of Psychology and Education (FPE) and the School of Psychology and Life Sciences (EPCV), stressed that it was a great honour to host a conference organised by such a prestigious European society. She highlighted its importance for networking and the visibility of academic research, particularly at a time when mental health is one of the world's major concerns and requires evidence-based guidance that will "help researchers, professionals, but also policymakers to move in the right direction in this field". She also emphasised the importance of progressively integrating these digital tools into the academic curriculum and students' future clinical practice, while maintaining a rigorous, ethical approach firmly grounded in scientific evidence, in line with the university's research and teaching priorities.

View the event photographs on Lusófona University's Facebook page

Credits

Text and Video Editing
Helena Gonçalves

Event Coverage and Photo Editing
Gabriel Motta
Helena Gonçalves