Mercè Generó, manager of Osonament, explains how the collaboration with the University of Vic-Central University of Catalonia (UVic-UCC) through the Industrial Doctorate Plan has been a transformative factor for her organization. Since 2016, they have promoted five projects that have allowed for the scientific validation of innovative mental health programs, demonstrating the effectiveness of new therapies and the real impact on the recovery of the people treated.
The resulting applied research addresses mental health from a holistic perspective, focusing on improving physical health and preventing comorbidities in people with severe mental disorders, through the implementation and validation of adapted physical activity programs —from reducing sedentary behavior to high-intensity interval training (HIIT)— and nutritional education based on the Mediterranean Diet. In parallel, new avenues for psychological well-being and social inclusion are investigated, analyzing the impact of art through the “Artistic Couples” project, and innovative technological tools are developed, such as a support chatbot, to offer ongoing assistance and prevent relapses into addiction.
Taken together, these lines of research reflect a determined commitment to transferring scientific knowledge into practical and measurable interventions that directly improve the quality of life and autonomy of users.
"The contribution of doctoral students has been key to making innovative programs effective and evidence-based [...]. Having them has allowed us to measure effectiveness, measure impact."
– How did the opportunity to collaborate with the Industrial Doctorate Plan arise?
– The opportunity arose in 2015, at a meeting with the University of Vic-Central University of Catalonia. We wanted to start working collaboratively with physical activity professionals and we didn't know how to do it. Through conversations with the University we learned about this modality and we decided to jump in, even though at that time social economy and non-profit entities like ours were not involved. We started in 2016 and to date we have five doctorates. The experience of that first meeting was a success.
– What are the main results you have obtained from these projects?
– We work in the field of recovery and community mental health, and we were clear that we wanted to demonstrate that the introduction of professional profiles different from those usual in the social and health sector —such as physical activity professionals (CAFE) or dietetics and nutrition— brought added value to our interventions. The Industrial Doctorate was the way to demonstrate this. Thanks to this research modality, we have been able to incorporate four of these profiles into our teams on a permanent basis.
– How do industrial doctorates contribute to responding to your social challenges?
– They have been key, both for us and for the people we serve. The focus is not so much on the company but on the person. For years we had been carrying out innovative programs in areas such as physical activity, nutrition or art. Specifically, we have had an artistic couples program for 19 years that we perceived was going very well, but we did not have any scientific evidence to validate it. The contribution of the doctoral students has been key to making these programs for caring for people with serious mental health problems effective and evident. They have allowed us to demonstrate how a healthy diet or how art and culture can provide psychological well-being and very important improvements. In short, having the doctoral students has allowed us to measure effectiveness and impact.
– What future challenges do you have and how do you think industrial doctors can help you?
– We are currently exploring two new innovative lines in the field of recovery for people with mental health disorders. One of them is to analyze how adventure therapy can help in this process. We will not stop with these five projects; we want to continue.
"I believe that the value is in taking the figure of the doctoral student out of the academic world and bringing it to the business world; in our case, to the world of social entities."
– What is the collaboration with the university like and what value does it bring to you?
– The Industrial Doctorate program has brought us closer. There was already joint work between the University of Vic and Osonament, but this collaborative space has been a differential value. It allows the professional to move between two areas: academia and knowledge, and the healthcare service. This dynamic has led us to much broader work, forming part of their research groups. The fact that professionals dedicate part of their day to the entity and the other to the research group generates new challenges that arise from this complicity. I believe that the value is to take the figure of the doctoral student out of the academic part and contribute it to the business world and, in our case, to the world of social entities.
– What is the key factor in the success of this relationship?
– Trust. Trust between research teams, because the institutions are at another level, but the people are the ones who work on a day-to-day basis. In our case, we collaborate with two or three different research teams from the University of Vic, and the work is excellent with all of them. There is a very close collaboration, for example, with the ISaMBes research group, because we share the same vision and we believe that introducing new ways of intervening will help the people we care for to recover better.
– Internationalization is one of our strategic axes. How do you assess this aspect?
– That the program considers the mobility of people is key, since it brings different perspectives to the expertise we work with. The possibility for a person to spend a stay, whether international or national, in a place where there is more knowledge on the subject is fundamental. It is true that it has an economic cost, and without a joint view of the company and the institution to face it it would not be possible. But the benefits it entails more than outweigh it.
"The gains exceed the initial investment when we focus on the benefit of the person being served."
– And with regard to academic publications, what value do they bring to you?
– Publications, presentations at conferences and attendance at events bring immense value to the institution, a value that would otherwise be impossible. It gives us recognition and makes other entities look at the innovations we are developing. It is key. In addition, if we are lucky enough that the doctors join the entity once the project is finished, as has happened to us, this continuum of publications provides an extremely important value.
– Finally, why would you recommend another entity to participate in the Industrial Doctorate Plan?
– Let them come and we will explain it to them. You have to see it in day-to-day life to understand what it entails. It is true that there must be a budget allocation, but the gains exceed this initial investment when we focus on the benefit of the person being treated. The recommendation would be that anyone who is interested visit us, and we will explain perfectly the benefits of incorporating multidisciplinary teams and introducing these figures into their organization.
