Smart D8 announces its first five pilot projects
Smart D8 has announced its first round of pilots, following a call last March for submissions that focused on the areas of Population Health, Mental Health and Covid-19 Impact.
Background
Smart D8 is a collaborative initiative with the purpose of investigating how new and innovative approaches can be used to improve citizens’ health and wellbeing in Dublin 8. In late 2020, the first Smart D8 Community Survey was launched, capturing the needs and priorities of the local community. In response to this survey, the first call for pilot project ideas was launched in March 2021 and five successful project have been announced which will be piloted in the community in Autumn 2021.
Category – Population Health:
Heart of our City
In partnership with the Irish Heart Foundation and Novartis, Heart of our City is a population health program that will focus on heart health in Dublin 8. This pilot project will connect people in Dublin 8 with a range of resources to support their cardiovascular health, building on existing social prescribing initiatives in the locality.
Social Currency Community Platform
Civic Dollars is a social currency platform that is used by citizens to improve health through physical activity and also supports connection with their local community. This pilot will allow people to earn rewards for time spent in local parks and open spaces.
Category – Mental Health:
Ways to Wellbeing: Learning from Locals
In partnership with St. Patrick’s Mental Health Services, Ways to Wellbeing is a project that will support students in learning about mental health and wellbeing through engaging with the lives of the older community in Dublin 8. The project is designed for students of both primary and secondary schools in the locality.
Virtual Reality Meditation Platform
In partnership with SolasVR, this project will pilot a Virtual Reality Meditation platform in the community. SolasVR enables a micro-break to allow the users to create some time and space away from events or situations that are impacting them.
Mental Health Literacy
The aim of this pilot project is to address the health literacy and digital health literacy challenges faced by adults with mental health needs. The aim of this proposal is to co-design solutions with people engaging in mental health services that will empower them in their treatment and decision-making. The next pilot call will be in November 2021 and the focus categories will be Population Health and Positive and Healthy Ageing. If you have any questions, please email info@smartd8.ie.
About Smart D8
Smart D8 is a collaborative initiative with the purpose of investigating how new and innovative approaches can be used to improve citizens’ health and wellbeing in Dublin 8. The Smart D8 District brings together local authorities, academia, healthcare, local community and industry in a partnership model to address real world issues.
The Digital Hub, Smart Dublin, Dublin City Council and St. James’s Hospital are joined by HSE Digital Transformation, Tyndall National Institute, St Patrick’s Mental Health Services, Trinity Research & Innovation, Trinity Translational Medicine Institute, National College of Art & Design, Guinness Enterprise Centre and Health Innovation Hub Ireland as partners in this unique initiative.
Smart D8 has engaged with the local Dublin 8 community to identify the major issues faced in terms of health and wellbeing and will develop an ecosystem of innovation and collaboration where solutions can be developed to address these issues. https://smartdublin.ie/smart-districts/smart-d8/
AuthorDigital Hub Team