IOE Health of the Public

We improve the health of the public through research on mental health, social care, health promotion, early intervention, health inequalities, and health communication.

About us

IOE, UCL’s Faculty of Education and Society helps improve the health of the public through its multi-disciplinary research on physical and mental health, the prevention of ill-health and promotion of wellbeing, and the reduction of health disparities. This includes studies on the wider determinants of health, health behaviours and lifestyles, and health care delivery. We are a major partner of UCL Health of the Public and work closely with a range of external partners and stakeholders.

Doctor lightly holds a patients hand. Credit: snowing12 via Adobe Stock
Image credit: snowing12 via Adobe Stock.

Between 2017 and 2021, IOE secured £60m in funding from the NIHR, MRC, ESRC and other major funders to undertake this research.

Young mother pushes baby stroller along a street full of plants. Credit: Cultura Creative
Image credit: Cultura Creative.

We are an international beacon of excellence in engagement with children and families and local, minoritised, vulnerable and underserved communities.

Person pointing to digital image of a human body. Photo: vegefox.com / Adobe Stock
Image credit: Photo: vegefox.com / Adobe Stock.

Our health research is informed by social and behavioural sciences as well as the arts and humanities, and draws on a broad range of methods, including cohort studies, case study research, discourse analysis, RCT, process evaluation, and evidence synthesis.

Back to top

Recent news highlights

Anxiety of headteachers across England “substantially increased” during the pandemic

The anxiety of headteachers across England increased “substantially” throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, finds the largest study of its type to date, led by a UCL researcher.

Teenagers need better reproductive health education to tackle parenthood fears

Nearly half of teenagers are worried about having children and many lack knowledge about their reproductive health, find two new studies by UCL researchers.

Children of care leavers risk inheriting parents’ emotional scars

The trauma associated with care experience casts a long shadow on mothers’ mental health and that of their children, finds new UCL research.

Anxiety of headteachers across England “substantially increased” during the pandemic

The anxiety of headteachers across England increased “substantially” throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, finds the largest study of its type to date, led by a UCL researcher.

Teenagers need better reproductive health education to tackle parenthood fears

Nearly half of teenagers are worried about having children and many lack knowledge about their reproductive health, find two new studies by UCL researchers.

Children of care leavers risk inheriting parents’ emotional scars

The trauma associated with care experience casts a long shadow on mothers’ mental health and that of their children, finds new UCL research.

Back to top

Research themes

Mental health, wellbeing and education

Children and young people

  • Parenting and children's behavioural problems: Micro- and macro-processes at play in the context of intervention
  • Improving young people’s mental health
  • Etch-a-Sketch Online: Scoping clinical use for adolescents with mental health difficulties

Within schools and further education

Autism

Adulthood

Back to top

Wellbeing of children and families

Back to top

Health promotion and early intervention

Back to top

Creative arts and health

Back to top

Health inequalities and determinants of health

Back to top

Health communication

Back to top

Improving health policy

Back to top

Covid-19

Back to top

Meet the team

Professor Jeff Bezemer, Vice Dean Health