Martijn Van Heel

Martijn Van Heel is an Assistant Professor in Psychology at Brussels University, affiliated with the Consultation Center. He specializes in adolescent mental health, focusing on parenting practices, emotion regulation, and non-suicidal self-injury. His work integrates cross-cultural comparisons and digital media's impact on youth development.

He leads and co-leads several projects, including the PRISM network (Psychology, Research, and Innovations for Mental Health) and the SMARTS initiative (Strengthening Mental health and Resilience Through Schools). He also contributed to the 'Good Game' project promoting mental health in esports and research on online communication's effects on adolescents.

Van Heel’s research emphasizes cultural differences in parenting, the role of digital platforms in mental health, and developing school-based interventions. His recent studies include benchmarking mindfulness therapies, analyzing emotion regulation across Belgium and Iran, and evaluating the Psychological Referral Optimization (PRO) app for adolescent mental health screening.

He collaborates extensively with researchers in Iran, Vietnam, Tanzania, and South Africa, exploring topics like aggression norms, attachment styles, and pandemic impacts on self-injury. His work is disseminated through peer-reviewed journals and international conferences, with notable contributions to Current Psychology and Cognitive Therapy and Research.