Research

The research focuses on four areas related to children’s mental health and wellbeing:

Risk

Risk involves understanding the range of contexts and circumstances that put a child or young person at elevated risk for mental health problems or poor outcomes in the context of experiencing mental health problems. As part of this work, we attempt to unpack many of the social determinants of poorer mental health outcomes associated with other characteristics such as ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, and economic disadvantage.

Resilience

Resilience explores the range of contexts and circumstances that enable some children and young people to thrive despite experiencing difficult circumstances. A central focus of this theme is enhancing community, school, family, and individual resources and opportunities that build on the many strengths of children, young people, and families.

Change

Change examines how to best understand and measure change in children’s mental health and wellbeing over time and what influences change. A main area of interest in recent years has been what is the best way to assess a positive change, or good outcome, from accessing specialist mental health support.

Choice

Choice encapsulates two areas. First, how we can empower children, young people and parents and carers to be actively involved in their mental health and mental health care. Second, involving children, young people and parents and carers in choosing what we mean by evidence by involving them in the creation of knowledge.