Key research findings in children and young people’s mental health highlighted in latest report

The Key Findings Report highlights research from leading experts in children and young people’s mental health, based at UCL and Anna Freud. It details their results and insights, which includes projects working in youth crime and violence, school and community interventions, prevention and digital tools, in the aim to improve children and young people’s mental health through evidence-based practice.

It was launched on 27 November at the last So What? webinar of the year hosted by Anna Freud: ‘So what have we learnt from the last year of research? A focus on inequalities, prevention, and youth crime and violence’, with speakers including Professor Jessica Deighton, Director of Applied Research and Evaluation, Anna Freud; Director of Evidence Based Practice Unit, UCL & Anna Freud, Dr Julian Edbrooke-Childs, Head of Evaluation and Co-Director, Evidence Based Practice Unit, and UCL PhD graduates Dr Mia Eisenstadt, Research Associate, Evidence Based Practice Unit and Dr Shaun Liverpool, Lecturer in Child and Adolescent Mental Health & Wellbeing. During the session they discussed in more detail some of the research featured in the report, findings, news research they are currently working on and next steps.

Professor Jessica Deighton, Director of Applied Research and Evaluation, Anna Freud; Director of Evidence Based Practice Unit, UCL & Anna Freud said: “The Key Findings Report is an excellent opportunity for us to showcase the work that we do and to reflect on what it has taught us as we move forward into a new year. This year has seen us work more with the youth justice system to support the mental health of children and young people who have been involved in crime and violence, and also the conclusion of HeadStart, a nine-year programme which allowed us to assess the impact of school and community interventions with a number of outputs created. Our work is an important part in ensuring that children’s mental health and wellbeing is prioritised and improved on, and we look forward to continuing that work in 2024 with further projects already in the pipeline.”

Some of the research papers highlighted and more, can be found on the Evidence Based Practice Unit website and you can download the Key Findings 2023 report here.