COllaborative Observatory on Lifestyle of European Regional University Students – Mental Health (COOLER-MH Initiative)

The COOLER-MH Initiative aims to establish the first transnational, harmonized, and collaborative observatory of lifestyle behaviors with a focus on mental health in European regional universities. Lifestyle behaviors under consideration include diet, physical activity, screen time and digital media use, sleep, substance use, social interaction, community involvement, and work-life balance, among others. Mental health outcomes will include general well-being, depression, anxiety, academic stress, addictions, eating disorders, academic performance, and cognitive functioning (e.g., episodic memory, working memory, cognitive flexibility, processing speed, inhibitory control, and attention). The project will create an innovation-oriented platform for real-time monitoring and improvement of student well-being, supported by a robust digital infrastructure and a network of Living Labs. Through a quadruple helix approach, integrating academia, industry, public authorities, and civil society, the COOLER-MH Initiative will serve as a catalyst for implementing evidence-based interventions, entrepreneurial pathways, and policy transformation.