Adolescent Mental Health and Development in the Digital World

Lead Research Organisation: University of Nottingham
Department Name: School of Medicine

Abstract

We will work with young people to use digital technology to transform adolescent mental health and provide a safe, and supportive, digital environment to tackle the unmet need arising from mental health disorders in those aged 10-24 years old. We are facing a youth mental health crisis; in the UK, one in eight young people have a mental health disorder, and one in four young women aged 17-19 have significant depression or anxiety with half of those having self-harmed; non-suicidal self-harm has nearly tripled over the past 10 years, while suicide rates per 100,000 adolescents have almost doubled. However, less than a third of all young people with mental health disorders receive any treatment. Many mental health and wellbeing apps exist, but most have no evidence base and some could even be harmful. Meanwhile, few research-based digital interventions have been shown to have impact in the real world. The youth mental health crisis has coincided with huge changes in society with creation of the 'digital environment' where being online and using social media has become central to young people's lives. While social media can be a helpful place for accessing information, exchanging views and receiving support, it has also been linked with depression, suicide and self-harm. Yet not all young people are at risk of mental health problems with social media we don't yet understand why some young people are more vulnerable than others. The COVID-19 crisis has been associated with increased mental health problems and greater online activity in young people. While their need to access trusted support online is greater than ever, social media platforms are not designed to meet mental health needs of young people.

Aims & objectives.
We will work with young people in our Young Person Advisory Group to:
1. increase understanding of the relationship between digital risk, resilience and adolescent mental health.
2. develop and evaluate preventative and personalised digital interventions.

We aim to:
- identify risk and resilience factors related to troublesome online experiences and activities, to prevent or reduce the emergence of depression, anxiety, and self-harm in young people.
- understand how individual differences affect digital engagement (e.g. with social media and games) and adolescent brain and psychosocial development.
- build, adapt and pilot new a generation of personalised and adaptive digital interventions incorporating a mechanistic understanding of human support with a new digital platform for delivery and trials in adolescent mental health conditions.
- develop and test a novel socially assistive robot to help regulate difficult emotions with a focus on adolescents who self-harm.
- develop and test a new digital tool to help adolescents better manage impulsive and risky behaviour with a focus on reducing the risk of self-harm.

Applications & benefits.
This work will translate new knowledge into practical tools to support young people negotiate the digital world, develop resilience and protect their mental health. Our involvement of young people means that the outputs from the research will be suitable and meaningful. Young people will be actively involved shaping the research at all stages. Young people, their caregivers, teachers, clinicians and charities will benefit from a range of co-created apps and tools to manage youth mental health issues. Young people will benefit from research training offered as part of their involvement. Policy makers and academics will benefit from new understandings of risk and resilience in the digital world to support novel interventions and evidence-based policy. Our work will establish a new, ethical and responsible way of designing digital platforms and tools that supports young people's mental health. Our Mental Health & Digital Technology Policy Liaison Group and Partners Board will translate our research into a step-change in mental health outcomes.

Technical Summary

Objectives
We will work with young people in our Young Person Advisory group to:
- increase understanding of the relationship between digital risk, resilience and adolescent mental health
- develop and evaluate preventative and personalized digital interventions.

We aim to:
- identify risk and resilience factors related to troublesome online experiences and activities, to prevent or reduce the emergence of depression, anxiety, and self-harm in young people.
- understand how individual differences, affect digital engagement (e.g. with social media and games) and adolescent brain and psychosocial development.
- build, adapt and pilot new a generation of personalized and adaptive digital interventions incorporating a mechanistic understanding of human support with a new digital platform for delivery and trials in adolescent mental health conditions.
- develop and test a novel socially assistive robot to help regulate difficult emotions with a focus on adolescents who self-harm.
- develop and test a new digital tool to help adolescents better manage impulsive and risky behaviour with a focus on reducing the risk of self-harm.

Methods to be used across the programme include; longitudinal analyses, quantitative multivariate and machine learning approaches, ecological momentary assessment, qualitative analyses, feasibility trials, mixed-methods process evaluation, user-centred co-production and human computer interaction methods. Planned, reciprocal linkages between work packages will enable cross-cutting themes on responsible innovation, impulsivity and emotion regulation to be investigated across disciplines and themes. Involvement work with young people shaped the bid and will occur at every stage of the research process.

Application and exploitation: Our Mental Health & Digital Technology Policy Liaison Group and Partners Board will ensure that our work is used in the real world to deliver a step-change in mental health outcomes for young people.

Organisations

Publications

10 25 50

 
Title Digital Debates Artwork 
Description Illustrations to visualise discussions held in our Digital Debates workshop, which brought together young people from the Sprouting Minds Youth Advisory team and researchers from the University of Nottingham, Kings College London, City University of London, Queen Mary's University London and the University of Oxford. The aim of these workshops are to share and explore our understandings of more complex and contested terms where different perspectives are important. We hope to build understanding, facilitate meaningful conversations and enable further collaboration across our Digital Youth team and provide a useful resource for Digital Youth team members and beyond. The first session focused on the term 'Digital Resilience' We will look to share the artwork and outputs from these sessions more widely through downloadable colouring prints on our website and a set of postcards. 
Type Of Art Artwork 
Year Produced 2023 
Impact Increased engagement from our young people and also a useful aid in communicating our research 
URL https://digitalyouth.ac.uk/you-just-need-to-toughen-up-exploring-different-understandings-of-the-ter...
 
Description AMS/ASSA 'Advancing multisectoral and life-course approaches in mental health research' report
Geographic Reach Africa 
Policy Influence Type Participation in a guidance/advisory committee
 
Description Chair MQ Transforming Mental Health Data Science meeting
Geographic Reach Multiple continents/international 
Policy Influence Type Influenced training of practitioners or researchers
URL https://www.mqmentalhealth.org/get-involved/events/
 
Description Prof Ellen Townsend thanked in parliament for raising concerns about child and adolescent mental health in the covid pandemic
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Citation in other policy documents
URL https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2022-11-29?showNoDebateMessage=True
 
Description Providing an evidence-based response to UK Gov's Education Committee re 'screen time'
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Contribution to a national consultation/review
URL https://digitalyouth.ac.uk/screen-time-impacts-on-education-and-wellbeing/
 
Description DATAMIND - A Mental Health Research Data Hub.
Amount £2,031,434 (GBP)
Organisation Medical Research Council (MRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 08/2021 
End 08/2024
 
Description International longitudinal datasets made discoverable with an interactive online platform (discretionary fund)
Amount £1,279,313 (GBP)
Organisation Wellcome Trust 
Sector Charity/Non Profit
Country United Kingdom
Start 09/2023 
End 09/2028
 
Description Landscaping to identify the most promising longitudinal datasets for depression, anxiety and psychosis research.
Amount £507,172 (GBP)
Organisation Wellcome Trust 
Sector Charity/Non Profit
Country United Kingdom
Start 08/2022 
End 08/2023
 
Description Mental Health Leadership Fellowship - Renewal
Amount £374,897 (GBP)
Organisation Economic and Social Research Council 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 03/2020 
End 02/2022
 
Description Public Engagement Seed Funding- Digital Youth (Adolescent Mental Health & Development in the Digital World)
Amount £8,565 (GBP)
Organisation Medical Research Council (MRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 03/2023 
End 08/2025
 
Description Sorting out self-harm from suicide risk: American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
Amount $125,000 (USD)
Organisation Western Kentucky University 
Sector Academic/University
Country United States
Start 09/2022 
End 09/2024
 
Description The time of their lives? Developing Concepts and Methods to Understand Loneliness in Students - Nicola Byrom PI
Amount £108,788,030 (GBP)
Funding ID MR_X002810_1 
Organisation Medical Research Council (MRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 11/2022 
End 10/2025
 
Title KAP survey on RRI 
Description Team has created a survey designed to assess the Digital Youth's Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) regarding a Responsible Research and Innovation approach. 
Type Of Material Improvements to research infrastructure 
Year Produced 2023 
Provided To Others? No  
Impact n/a 
 
Title Landscaping international longitudinal datasets website and list of datasets 
Description We are a partnership of researchers, charities, and industry and lived experience experts funded by the Wellcome Trust to landscape longitudinal datasets with potential for transformative mental health research. As part of this project, we identified more than 3,000 longitudinal datasets worldwide and we made the list freely available on our website. 
Type Of Material Improvements to research infrastructure 
Year Produced 2022 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact The landscaping website was a successful way to engage with people outside the partnership and to share information with them. In February 2023, we recorded over 4,400 visits and more than 6,400 page views from people based in 76 different countries. 
URL https://www.landscaping-longitudinal-research.com/
 
Title Landscaping international longitudinal datasets website and list of datasets 
Description We are a partnership of researchers, charities, and industry and lived experience experts funded by the Wellcome Trust to landscape longitudinal datasets with potential for transformative mental health research. As part of this project, we landscaped more than 3,000 longitudinal datasets worldwide and we made that list freely available on our website. 
Type Of Material Improvements to research infrastructure 
Year Produced 2022 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact The website was a successful way to engage with people outside the partnership and to share information with them. In February 2023, we recorded over 4,400 visits and more than 6,400 page views from people based in 76 different countries. Wellcome is interested is developing the website into a platform to increase the discoverability of longitudinal datasets. 
URL https://www.landscaping-longitudinal-research.com/
 
Title Protocol for scoping review 
Description Team crafted a protocol for conducting a scoping review focused on Public and Patient Involvement (PPI) and Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) approaches within collaborative projects involving young individuals. The protocol has been submitted for publication. 
Type Of Material Improvements to research infrastructure 
Year Produced 2023 
Provided To Others? No  
Impact n/a 
 
Title The Catalogue of Mental Health Measures 
Description The Catalogue of Mental Health Measures is designed to provide easy access to information about the mental health measures included in British cohort and longitudinal studies to maximise the uptake of existing data and facilitate mental health research. By providing details of the measures and studies, the catalogue serves as a resource for researchers 1) identifying datasets that include mental health and wellbeing measures; 2) planning harmonisation studies; 3) planning further data collection. The resource is also intended for researchers who may be less familiar with mental health or from other disciplines - demographers, economists, urbanist, linguists and others. To support these researchers, the catalogue also provides information about additional training and support for conducting longitudinal mental health research. In the past year only, the Catalogue had 6,334 visitors, of which, 5,433 were new visitors and 901 were returning visitors. the Catalogue also received a total of 22,289 page views. Half of the visitors are in the UK and half are from abroad. 
Type Of Material Improvements to research infrastructure 
Year Produced 2019 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact Benefiting researchers and funders: Our new resource will be useful for as well as principal investigators and funding bodies. The Catalogue may be particularly useful for early career researchers utilising data that has already collected and researchers less familiar with the mental health field - but it may also hold some surprises for experienced mental health researchers! Easy access to detailed information: Longitudinal study designs are advantageous as they allow for closely examining patterns of change and the influence of earlier life circumstances on later outcomes, as well as providing insight into causal mechanisms and processes. The Catalogue provides mental health researchers with easy access to detailed information about thousands of valuable measures of mental health in over 30 UK cohort and longitudinal studies. The search engine gives users the opportunity to explore by study, mental health topic and symptom, as well as by standard instruments, such as the General Health Questionnaire. Researchers can use the catalogue to identify specific measures collected in a range of different longitudinal study types, including representative samples, birth cohorts, twin studies, ageing studies, and studies focusing on specific mental health problems. Researchers in the early stages of their career, who may not have the opportunity to collect new data first-hand, will find the Catalogue's focus on existing data particularly helpful. The Catalogue allows users to explore established studies, quickly access detailed information about the mental health measures they have collected, and thus potentially identify previously unknown resources of use for their research. 
URL https://www.cataloguementalhealth.ac.uk/
 
Title Landscaping International Longitudinal Datasets - 2022 
Description We are a partnership of researchers, charities, and industry and lived experience experts funded by the Wellcome Trust to landscape longitudinal datasets with potential for transformative mental health research. As part of this project, we identified more than 3,000 longitudinal datasets worldwide and we made a list freely available online. 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2022 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact The website was a successful way to engage with people outside the partnership and to share information with them. In February 2023, we recorded over 4,400 visits and more than 6,400 page views from people based in 76 different countries. Wellcome is interested in developing our website into a platform to increase the discoverability of longitudinal datasets. 
URL https://www.landscaping-longitudinal-research.com/
 
Title The ABCD Study 
Description The Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study® is the largest long-term study of brain development and child health in the United States. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) funded leading researchers in the fields of adolescent development and neuroscience to conduct this ambitious project. The ABCD Research Consortium consists of a Coordinating Center, a Data Analysis, Informatics & Resource Center, and 21 research sites across the country (see map), which have invited 11,880 children ages 9-10 to join the study. Researchers will track their biological and behavioral development through adolescence into young adulthood. 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2019 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact One of the work packages on the Digital Youth Programme- Developing resilience to self-harm and suicidality in the digital world: the role of brain, psychology and the social world, is using the ABCD dataset to review psychosocial variables and they are currently analysing prevalence rates of self-harm/ suicidality using this data. 
URL https://abcdstudy.org/
 
Title The Catalogue of Mental Health Measures - 2019 
Description The Catalogue of Mental Health Measures is designed to provide easy access to information about the mental health measures included in British cohort and longitudinal studies to maximise the uptake of existing data and facilitate mental health research. By providing details of the measures and studies, the Catalogue serves as a resource for researchers: - Identifying datasets that include mental health and wellbeing measures - Planning harmonisation studies - Planning further data collection. The resource is also intended for researchers who may be less familiar with mental health or from other disciplines - demographers, economists, urbanists, linguists, and others. To support these researchers, the Catalogue also provides information about additional training and support for conducting longitudinal mental health research. In the past year only, the Catalogue had 6,334 visitors, of which, 5,433 were new visitors and 901 were returning visitors. the Catalogue also received a total of 22,289 page views. Half of the visitors are in the UK and half are from abroad. 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2019 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact To be added 
URL https://www.cataloguementalhealth.ac.uk/
 
Description Amsterdam Cohort Hub (ACH) - SAB member 
Organisation Academic Medical Center
Country Netherlands 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Attend meetings to discuss progress and future plans
Collaborator Contribution Will facilitate connection with longitudinal datasets from the NL
Impact No yet
Start Year 2024
 
Description Centre for Global Mental Health (CGMH) - collaborator for Landscaping international longitudinal datasets project 
Organisation London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM)
Department Centre of Global Mental Health (CGMH)
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution We are a partnership of researchers, charities, and industry and lived experience experts funded by the Wellcome Trust to landscape longitudinal datasets with potential for transformative mental health research.
Collaborator Contribution The Centre for Global Mental Health (CGMH) helped with identifying datasets from low- and middle-income countries and supported the dissemination of the project on social media.
Impact We submitted our report to Wellcome in Feb
Start Year 2022
 
Description Centre for Longitudinal Studies (CLS) - SAB member 
Organisation University College London
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Attend online meetings to discuss strategic direction and future funding
Collaborator Contribution Facilitate connections with other longitudinal studies
Impact None yet
Start Year 2023
 
Description Centre for Society and Mental Health 
Organisation ESRC Centre for Society and Mental Health
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution The Centre will improve our understanding of the complex interrelationships between society and mental health, create platforms enabling new collaborations between disciplines and with societal partners, and work closely with users, communities, practitioners, and policy makers to design and assess novel evidence-based strategies for prevention and intervention. I contribute to the population mental health platforms and discussions
Collaborator Contribution The Centre contributes to the dissemination of the activities of the Mental Health Leadership Fellow
Impact N/A
Start Year 2019
 
Description Collaboration with Delosis.com 
Organisation King's College London
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution We worked with John Rogers at Delosis to develop the web platform for the Catalogue for Mental Health Measures
Collaborator Contribution Delosis developed the Catalogue and currently maintains and updates the information to keep the tool up to date
Impact The Catalogue for Mental Health Measures https://www.cataloguementalhealth.ac.uk/
Start Year 2018
 
Description Health Data Research UK - collaborator for Landscaping International Longitudinal Datasets project 
Organisation Health Data Research UK
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution We are a partnership of researchers, charities, and industry and lived experience experts funded by the Wellcome Trust to landscape longitudinal datasets with potential for transformative mental health research.
Collaborator Contribution HDRUK mental health data hub - DATAMIND contributed to this project by helping to identify datasets outside academia.
Impact We submitted our report to Wellcome in February 2023. This report is not publicly available yet.
Start Year 2022
 
Description INSPIRE: Mental Health Project - SAB member 
Organisation London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM)
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Member of their SAB and attend regular meetings to discuss progress and future direction
Collaborator Contribution Collaborate on the Landscaping project for identifying longitudinal datasets from Africa and establish connections
Impact None so far
Start Year 2023
 
Description MQ Mental Health Research - charity partner for Landscaping international longitudinal datasets project 
Organisation MQ Mental Health Research
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution We are a partnership of researchers, charities, and industry and lived experience experts funded by the Wellcome Trust to landscape longitudinal datasets with potential for transformative mental health research. MQ assisted with landscaping international studies and they led the planning and organisation of a Theory of Change workshop for ensuring a meaningful engagement with various stakeholders about possible enrichment of datasets. This workshop aimed at supporting the delivery of the report, particularly regarding the areas of enrichment. This workshop encouraged discussions with stakeholders about data and what is needed to create a step change in early intervention in anxiety, depression, and psychosis. We sought to hear about what can be achieved, and how.
Collaborator Contribution MQ delivered a full report for the workshop and contributed to landscaping international studies by contacting their international partners. They also support the dissemination of the project.
Impact We submitted the report to Wellcome in February 2023. This report is not publicly available yet
Start Year 2022
 
Description MQ/DATAMIND Data Science meeting 
Organisation MQ Mental Health Research
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution I am the Chair for the bi-annual meetings organised by MQ and DATAMIND.
Collaborator Contribution I contribute to the organisation of the meetings and I chair the sessions on the day. I also select the submissions from the early career researchers.
Impact None yet
Start Year 2022
 
Description Mindtech Cooperative 
Organisation NIHR MindTech MedTech Co-operative
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution I am the Director of Mindtech. MindTech is a national centre focussing on the development, adoption and evaluation of new technologies for mental healthcare and dementia. We were established in 2013 and are funded by the National Institute for Healthcare Research to work in partnership with healthcare professionals, patients and the public, researchers and industry.
Collaborator Contribution The Senior Programme manager on Mindtech, Dr Jennifer Martin, is a key support to the Digital Youth programme, including providing operational line-management to the Digital Youth Programme Manager.
Impact As a result of this partnership, Digital Youth and our Young person's Advisory Group, Sprouting Minds, were invited to present at the 2022 Mindtech Symposium at the Royal College of Physicians in London.
Start Year 2021
 
Description RCUK eNurture Network Plus 
Organisation University of Sussex
Department School of Psychology Sussex
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution I'm a co-investigator on this RCUK-funded network plus, which focuses on promoting young people's mental health in a digital world. I am contributing to the strategy of this network and reviewing applications for research funding.
Collaborator Contribution This network is led by the University of Sussex (Prof Gordon Harold) and they are responsible for the management of the award and all activities.
Impact The enurture Network have organised a number of roadshows across the UK to publicise the network and have run two funding competitions to support novel research int this area.
Start Year 2018
 
Description Selection and Interview panels for Mental Health Networks _Arseneault 
Organisation Economic and Social Research Council
Department ESRC-DFID Joint Fund
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution Professor Louise Arseneault sat on the interview panels of 8 newly funded UKRI Mental Health Networks to bring researchers, charities and other organisations together to address important mental health research questions. Louise judged and assessed the applications and proposals by a range of academics and third sector partners to help fund the new £8m Networks.
Collaborator Contribution Organising venues/locations/backgrounds of applicants
Impact Eight new Mental Health Networks have been announced by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)
Start Year 2018
 
Description The Academy of Medical Sciences - Mental health workshop in South Africa 
Organisation Academy of Medical Sciences (AMS)
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution The Academy of Medical Sciences (AMS) and the Academy of Sciences of South Africa (ASSAf) jointly hosted a meeting on mental health, which took place in South Africa in November 2022. This meeting formed part of programme of global health policy workshops delivered jointly with partners in low-and-middle income countries, with the overall aim to: enable partners (primarily National Academies) in ODA-eligible countries to consider how scientific evidence can address key global health challenges; build policy capacity for the provision of scientific advice; and reconnect with and strengthen our networks in LMIC's. The academies hoped to use this meeting to also build on the previous work on global mental health (such as this meeting in 2019 on the social determinants of mental health), and wider ongoing work in the ecosystem. The project was led by a co-nominated Steering Committee, headed up by Chairs from both the Academy and ASSAf. I was co-chair for this project steering committee.
Collaborator Contribution I was co-chair for this project steering committee
Impact The report was made pubic in April 2023. We published a correspondence in Nature Medicine in February 2024
Start Year 2022
 
Description The Open Data Institute - Industry partner for Landscaping international longitudinal datasets project 
Organisation Open Data Institute
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution We are a partnership of researchers, charities, and industry and lived experience experts funded by the Wellcome Trust to landscape longitudinal datasets with potential for transformative mental health research. The Open Data Institute (ODI) is an independent not-for-profit institute which works with governments and organisations globally to build a world where data works for everyone. They have a proven track record of delivering world-renowned research and engagement projects addressing major health challenges with data, including Wellcome-funded mental health projects and initiatives with industry and government on data access. ODI led on landscaping longitudinal studies outside from the academic sector such as the NHS, government and industry.
Collaborator Contribution ODI led on landscaping longitudinal studies outside from the academic sector such as the NHS, government and industry. They contributed approximately 250 longitudinal datasets to the pool of datasets we identified for this project.
Impact We submitted our report to Wellcome in February 2023. This report is not publicly available yet
Start Year 2022
 
Description UKRI Loneliness and Mental Health Network_Matthews 
Organisation University College London
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Dr Timothy Matthews participated in presentations and panel discussions on loneliness.
Collaborator Contribution The Division of Psychiatry within the University College London developed a network of collaboration between researchers and 3rd sector stakeholders working on loneliness.
Impact University College London launched an event of loneliness network in late 2018.
Start Year 2018
 
Description UKRI Mental Health Networks 
Organisation Mental Health Research Network
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Learned Society 
PI Contribution In 2018, UK Research & Innovation (UKRI) funded 8 mental health research networks. These networks are formed of academics, clinicians, 3rd sector representatives and those with lived experience, amongst others. They tackle a variety of mental health research subjects, ranging from youth mental health to violence and abuse, to loneliness and social isolation. The networks embrace a collaborative ethos, bringing together researchers from a wide range of disciplines, including technology, health, medicine, biology, social sciences, humanities and environmental sciences. In autumn 2022, the Mental Health Research Matters team launched a digital conversation about why mental health research matters, what good mental health research looks like and how we can all get involved to make a difference.
Collaborator Contribution I am Chair of the Network Advisory Group.
Impact The Networks website lists all activities, outputs and outcomes.
Start Year 2017
 
Description Wolfson Centre for Young People's Mental Health - SAB member 
Organisation Cardiff University
Department Wolfson Centre for Young People's Mental Health
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution The Wolfson Centre for Young People's Mental Health is a dedicated interdisciplinary research centre focusing on reducing anxiety and depression in young people. It uses research expertise to focus on understanding the causes of adolescent mental health problems that can inform new effective ways to offer practical help to young people.
Collaborator Contribution I am a member of the Wolfson Centre for Young People's Mental Health Scientific Advisory Board
Impact The centre's webite lists all ongoing activities, outputs and outcomes.
Start Year 2021
 
Title Computerised cognitive behavioural therapy for adolescent depression: a pilot and feasibility randomised controlled trial 
Description Adolescent depression is on the rise in the UK and so it's very important to find a good way of helping young people manage their symptoms. Currently, many young people with depression do not get the therapy they need because of long waiting lists within healthcare services. Young people who access computerised therapy may also not complete all the sessions or find it difficult to engage. In New Zealand, a team of researchers developed a way of supporting young people with depression by developing a computer game called SPARX. This involves the young person navigating their way through a virtual world as an avatar, meeting different characters, and learning various techniques to help manage their low mood symptoms. The researchers tested this online game in a large study where it appeared to work well and showed positive findings. SPARX has been tested in other countries where it also showed positive results. Now the game needs to be tested in the UK with people from different areas, different backgrounds, and different ages to make sure it is acceptable and useful to adolescents. Just because something worked well in a different country with different people, it doesn't mean the same would be true here. The research team are also looking to see if a supported version of SPARX is better at keeping young people engaged with the program rather than a self-directed version. To do this, a third of all adolescents will randomly be allocated to a waitlist group who will not have access to SPARX, a third to the original version of SPARX which is self-directed and a third to receive a supported and personalised version of SPARX in which an e-coach provides online human support alongside SPARX. A computer program allocates these groups randomly to ensure it is fair and to make sure the groups are the same to start with. None of the researchers or members of the care team will have any input into which group participants are placed in. The findings from this study will help us to further develop SPARX which will hopefully allow more young people to benefit from evidence-based interventions. This is a feasibility study (a practice run before doing a large-scale study). The study will help us find out more about how helpful young people with depression find additional support, and how it can be improved the support and SPARX going forward; if young people who have depression find this type of trial acceptable and whether they are willing to be randomly allocated to receive SPARX, or to be put on a waiting list; whether young people taking part can complete the questionnaires planned to be used, without difficulty; and, to estimate how many young people will be needed to recruit for the larger trial. These changes can then be implemented before a larger study is started to ensure that the research meets the patient's needs. 
Type Support Tool - For Fundamental Research
Current Stage Of Development Initial development
Year Development Stage Completed 2024
Development Status Under active development/distribution
Clinical Trial? Yes
Impact We cannot promise the study will help the parent or the child but the information from this study will help to plan a larger study to test how effective SPARX is at supporting adolescents with depression. In the future, this could help improve access to evidence-based services for other young people with depression. No disadvantages or risks to the parent or the child are expected. Any interviews and appointments will be arranged at times to suit participants so as to not inconvenience them. 
URL https://digitalyouth.ac.uk/research/research-projects/sparx-developing-precision-digital-cognitive-b...
 
Title Landscaping International Longitudinal Datasets 
Description We are a partnership of researchers, charities, and industry and lived experience experts funded by the Wellcome Trust to landscape longitudinal datasets with potential for transformative mental health research. A part pf this project we identified more than 3,000 longitudinal datasets worldwide and made a list freely available on our website. 
Type Of Technology Webtool/Application 
Year Produced 2022 
Open Source License? Yes  
Impact The website was a successful way to engage with people outside the partnership and to share information with them. On February 2023, we recorded over 4,400 visits and more than 6,400 page views from people based in 76 different countries. Wellcome is interested in developing this website into a platform to increase the discoverability of longitudinal datasets. 
URL https://www.landscaping-longitudinal-research.com/
 
Description ADHD and social isolation paper - Thompson 2023 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact The Independent reports our findings on children with ADHD and social isolation.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/adhd-children-british-research-b2309831.html
 
Description Arseneault 2023 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Louise Arseneault wrote a blog for the Landscaping project. The blog was entitled: 'Epilogue of a research adventure.'
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://www.landscaping-longitudinal-research.com/blog/la-2
 
Description Arseneault 2023 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Postgraduate students
Results and Impact Louise Arseneault contributed a lecture to the Boston University Center for Trauma and Mental Health seminar series. The presentation was entitled: 'Landscaping International Longitudinal Datasets'.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Arseneault 2023 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Louise Arseneault contributed a presentation to the 14th Annual International Network for Research on Inequalities in Child Health (INRICH) Workshop. The presentation was entitled: 'Bullying at school'.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Arseneault 2023 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Postgraduate students
Results and Impact Louise Arseneault contributed a presentation at King's College London/ the Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre weekly seminar series. The presentation was entitled: 'A year searching the world for longitudinal datasets: Reflections on richness and opportunities.'
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Arseneault 2023 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Louise Arseneault contributed a presentation to the 5th Congress of the joint European Neonatal Societies (jENS). The presentation was entitled 'The social environment of children: How it shapes mental health and cognition.'
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Arseneault 2023 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Louise Arseneault made a invited public lecture at Cardiff University as part of the Waterloo Foundation Annual Meeting. the presentation was entitled 'Why social relationships are important for your mental health'.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Arseneault 2023 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Louise Arseneault contributed a presentation at the 17th European Society for Traumatic Stress Studies conference. The presentation was entitled: 'The Catalogue of Mental Health Measures: Discovering the depths of mental health data in UK longitudinal studies.'
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Attendance at University of Nottingham Community Open Day 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Digital Youth research with representatives from WP7, WP8 promoted to local communities, residents, business and other stakeholders at the University of Nottingham Castle Meadow Open Day, July 2023.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/cmc/latest-news-and-events/events/open-day.aspx#:~:text=On%20Thursday%2...
 
Description Blog - Arseneault 2022 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Other audiences
Results and Impact Wrote a blog to launch a new project Landscaping international longitudinal datasets
"Landscaping longitudinal datasets from across the world for creating a step change in early intervention in anxiety, depression and psychosis"
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://www.landscaping-longitudinal-research.com/blog/blog-la
 
Description Blog for Psyche 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact An evidence-based blog about how to support someone who is self-harming.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
URL https://psyche.co/guides/how-to-support-someone-who-is-self-harming-reach-in-and-listen
 
Description Children social isolation and mental health - Thompson 2023 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact KCL filmed Katie Thompson about her research on how does childhood social isolation impact mental health? She explains how social isolation can vary across childhood and discusses which children are most at risk of developing poor mental health.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://twitter.com/KingsIoPPN/status/1623284059345494023
 
Description Digital Youth Partners Meeting 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Third sector organisations
Results and Impact We held our first partners meeting in October 2023 chaired by Prof Peter Fonagy. This was an in-person event bringing together 11 voluntary sector and commercial partners with our researchers/YPAG to promote our research. Partners outlined current challenges and priorities, with the aim of aligning our work packages with partners priorities to tackle these challenges where relevant, and leverage partners networks for dissemination and implementation of our research.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Digital Youth SPARX project presented at 11th Scientific Meeting for the International Society for Research on Internet Interventions/ISRII at Pittsburgh, USA 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Dr Camilla Babbage attended the International Society for Research on Internet Interventions (ISRII) 2022 conference in Pittsburgh, USA. ISRII is the largest international conference on internet interventions, with a strong focus on apps and online services to support mental health. The conference took place from 19-21 September 2022, with pre-conference workshops held the day before. It attracted researchers and digital health companies from countries across the world, with contributors from Argentina, Brazil, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Spain, Germany, Lithuania, Italy, the UK, Ireland, New Zealand, Canada, and the US, among others. Camilla's presentation looked at how stakeholders, such as educational and mental health professionals and young people, believe a serious self-help game for children and adolescents with low mood (SPARX) should be implemented in the UK, and considered where SPARX should be accessed, who should access SPARX, and if SPARX or serious games are acceptable to young people.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://digitalyouth.ac.uk/digital-youth-researcher-attends-international-conference-on-digital-rese...
 
Description Digital Youth Twitter account 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact In November 2022 Digital Youth launched a Twitter account as a means of connecting with a wider audience base, and on an international level. Engagement with the programme via this platform has been positive so far.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022,2023
URL https://twitter.com/mrcdigitalyouth
 
Description Digital Youth Website 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact In November 2022 we launched the Digital Youth website, to coincide with our participation in UK Parliament Evidence week. The website has allowed us to increase our reach in terms of maximising publicity and engagement with the Digital Youth programme.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022,2023
URL https://digitalyouth.ac.uk/
 
Description Digital Youth and Mental Health Knowledge, Engaged Podcast - The Institute for Policy and Engagement, University of Nottingham (Khan (WP6) and Lockwood (WP8) 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Two Digital Youth researchers (Khan and Lockwood) spoke about the Programme on the Knowledge, Engaged Podcast, hosted byThe Institute for Policy and Engagement, University of Nottingham. The podcast is aimed at policy makers and the general public, aiming to promote the importance of research and support for young people's mental health.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://knowledgeengaged.buzzsprout.com/1870242/13072802-digital-youth-and-mental-health-w-jo-lockwo...
 
Description Digital Youth research presented at ESSSB19 Conference Copenhagen 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Initial findings from our Robots to support emotional regulation for young people at risk of self-harm study LGBTQ+ pilot was presented as an oral talk at the ESSSB19 in Copenhagen by Dr Amy Jess Williams.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://esssb19.org/
 
Description Formation of - and collaboration with - youth panel of adolescents aged 13-16. 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Other audiences
Results and Impact We recruited a total of 17 young people to form a young persons advisory panel for the project. These individuals are aged between 13 and 16 years of age and advise on topics such as the feasibility of the planned study, how best to assess digital engagement in young people, and what barriers to completing our research may exist. This youth panel assemble on a monthly/bi-monthly basis and we will continue to work with them on an ongoing basis for the duration of this research. Up to this point, their input has consisted of examining and critiquing research materials, recruitment plan, and understanding of how (and what) digital activities may affect mental well-being. Their input up to this point has refined or investigative tools so that we assess digital activity in the most relevant way for young people in our upcoming research project. We look forward to their future contributions to the DIORA project.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022,2023
 
Description GatherTown Workshop by Ewan Soubutts 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Other audiences
Results and Impact An evening event with the Youth group on the AMHDM project, looking at their involvement with responsible innovation on the project and how they could become active participants in RRI research studies happening too.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description International Invited Seminar, Black Dog Institute, Sydney, Australia 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Prof Chris Hollis visited the Black Dog Institute at the University of New South Wales, which included a presentation: "Mind the Gap! Bridging the divide between academic research and the commercialisation and adoption of digital mental health innovations". The seminar provided an overview of the Digital Youth programme as well as the opportunity to discuss future collaborations.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
 
Description Interview for national newspaper- the Sunday Times 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Interviewed for a Sunday Times piece on what it is like to be 16 in modern times compared to past times which sparked debate on Twitter.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/27ddc962-b9ee-11ed-9175-9df34c1978e4?shareToken=42b6afad3e3ffbaf9...
 
Description Interview for Sunday Times newspaper 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Quoted in Sunday Times article on the impact of lockdowns on child and adolescent mental health.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/lockdown-made-britain-sicker-covid-health-latest-drinking-fitness...
 
Description Interview on live national radio -Radio 5 live 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Interviewed on Radio 5 live to discuss the impact of national pandemic polities on the mental health of children and adolescents.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001js07
 
Description Interview with Stephen Nolan on Radio 5 live about impacts of pandemic restrictions on mental health in young people 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Interview sparked debate on social media.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0070jd4
 
Description Interview with Sunday Express Health Editor 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Interview on impact of pandemic restrictions on young people.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
URL https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/health/1550703/children-mental-health-treatment-covid-pandemic-...
 
Description Interview with The Times on impact of covid pandemic restrictions on school children. 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact interview with journalist
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
URL https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/lockdown-made-britain-sicker-covid-health-latest-drinking-fitness...
 
Description Interviewed for BBC Radio Oxford re women in AI 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Marina Jirotka interviewed for BBC Radio Oxford during AI week re women in AI.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Introduction to Digital Youth oral presentation to sixth form students 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact Introduction to Digital Youth oral presentation to sixth form students at three local secondary Schools in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire, October 2023 (to approx. 80 students) (Greenhalgh and Warren, WP5)
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Invited Talk: Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge Nov 2022 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Postgraduate students
Results and Impact Professor Ellen Townsend, Co-Lead on the Digital Youth Programme presented an overview of the programme including the CaTS-APP: A new digital tool to understand and support young people who self-harm to the Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge in Nov 2022. This was a hybrid event.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22o4ONeviRg
 
Description Invited talk at Get Happier event at Brighton Engineerium 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Invited presentation at an event for International Happiness Day attended by a wide range of audience members.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://thelatest.co.uk/brighton/2023/03/14/get-happier-building-happier-communities/
 
Description Joint workshop: Crossing the Streams 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Other audiences
Results and Impact A day-long workshop to examine and unpack the differences between RRI and PPI
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description Keynote presentation BPS Suicide Prevention UK Summit Sept 2022. 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Professor Ellen Townsend, Co-Lead on the Digital Youth Programme presented a keynote presentation at the BPS Suicide Prevention UK Summit Sept 2022.400+ attendees. 5K + signed up to access recording after the event.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://www.mentalhealthacademy.co.uk/documents/MHA-UK-SPS-Schedule-2022.pdf
 
Description Marina Jirotka panelist at Creative Machine Oxford symposium 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Panelist at the Creative Machine Oxford symposium
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://www.creativemachine.io/2023-speakers
 
Description Mental Health Academy Society Suicide Prevention Summit 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Presentation on how to engage patients and the public in self-harm and suicide prevention research.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://www.mentalhealthacademy.co.uk
 
Description NIHR MindTech Symposium 2021 -Thursday 9th December 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact The NIHR MindTech Symposium was a virtual conference event in 2021 due to the ongoing Covid pandemic. This allowed the Symposium to reach audiences that would not have been able to attend had the meeting been in person with a delegate fee. The vitual meetind was free with registration only required.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
URL https://www.mindtech.org.uk/news-events/events/mindtech-symposium-2021-session-recordings
 
Description NIHR Mindtech Symposium 2022 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Mindtech 2022 saw a return to an in person event at The Royal College of Physicians in London following two years online due to the COVID pandemic, and was a celebration of MindTech's 10th birthday - a decade that has seen major changes in the ubiquity and acceptance of digital mental healthcare. MindTech2022 provided an opportunity to take stock on progress made and lessons learnt and also to take a forward view for digital mental health.
Professor Tim Kendall, National Clinical Director for Mental Health, NHS England delivered our keynote and his address 'Digital Mental Health Therapies in the NHS - a new way forward?' reflected on the impact of the pandemic - both in terms of increasing demand for mental health services and the opportunities for digital solutions to close the treatment gap.
We also showcased cutting-edge research including Digital Youth (Adolescent Mental Health and Development in the Digital World). The Digital Youth session was titled " Collaboration, co-creation and co-production for improved mental health in young people" and introduced the CaTS app, an online tool to understand and assess self-harm, Purrbles- socially assistive robots for young people with mental health difficulties, and SPARX- a serious online game for young people with low mood. The session was chaired by Digital Youth Co-Lead Prof Ellen Townsend. We also heard from Prof Ed Watkins on the results of the EcoWeb study, Dr Stefan Rennick- Egglestone on the NEON study and Dr Sinéad Lambe and the gameChange study team will present trial results, patient experiences and implementation prospects from the NIHR i4i gameChange VR study.
The MindTech Symposium also provides a space to debate topical policy issues - and this year the MindTech2022 Debate focussed on the question of whether the NHS should out-source digital mental health services or provide digital tools 'in-house', supported by NHS staff, and embedded within existing NHS services.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://www.mindtech.org.uk/news-events/events/upcoming-events/event/12-new-frontiers-for-digital-me...
 
Description National Suicide Prevention Strategy Advisory Group: Self-Harm Sub Forum to shape the new National Suicide Prevention Strategy 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact A round table discussion on self-harm to inform the new National Suicide Prevention Strategy.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-8221/
 
Description Newsletter article of Marina Jirotka in the University Bulletin and article on University website 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Postgraduate students
Results and Impact Marina Jirotka featured in a bio article / interview.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022,2023
URL https://www.ox.ac.uk/news-and-events/oxford-people/Marina-Jirotka
 
Description Newsletters for the Catalogue of Mental Health Measures 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Other audiences
Results and Impact To maintain contact with various stakeholders, we send newsletters every season.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021,2022,2023
 
Description Nottingham Festival of Science and Curiosity February 2023 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact The Nottingham Festival of Science and Curiosity is annual festival which is all about showcasing a world of science and curiosity that's all around us every day. The festival is about inviting the people of Nottinghamshire to share not only what they know, but also what they would like to know; it's about celebrating curiosity, asking questions and taking a leading role in finding out the answers. The first week of the festival is while schools are still in session, and Dr Jess Williams who is working on our research theme 7 visited Nottingham College to introduce Digital Youth research and looked to create links with local education settings and with young people who may be interested in engaging with our research. The second week of the festival is while during the half term holidays, activities are based in community settings like libraries, museums and shopping centres so families can come along and explore a range of science activities. Dr Kareem Khan and Dr Jess Williams introduced the SPARX project (a serious online game for people with depression) and Purrbles (fluffy assitive robots for young people at risk of self-harm.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://twitter.com/mrcdigitalyouth/status/1622976120118210561
 
Description Oral presentation on digital iteration of CaTS delivered at the Early and Mid-Career Research Forum for Suicide and Self-Harm 2022 at the University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Postgraduate students
Results and Impact Dr Camilla Babbage from Digital Youth work package 8 presented research into the CaTS app at the Early and Mid-Career Research Forum for Suicide and Self-Harm 2022 at the University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://digitalyouth.ac.uk/research/research-projects/cats-app-a-new-digital-tool-to-understand-and-...
 
Description Partners' meeting in London 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Other audiences
Results and Impact Josimar Mendes from my team attended, engaged with stakeholders keen on Digital Youth's initiatives to deliberate on specific outcomes and their implications. Notably, active participation was observed from young individuals associated with Sprouting Minds who contributed to the discussions.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Poster presentation on foundational CaTS work delivered to the MRC Council's Senior team and Council members at a dissemination event at Birmingham University 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Dr Joanna Lockwood and Dr Camilla Babbage (Research Project 8) https://digitalyouth.ac.uk/research/research-projects/cats-app-a-new-digital-tool-to-understand-and-support-young-people-who-self-harm/ were recently invited to Birmingham University by the Midland Innovation/Health Team to provide an update on their research to the Medical Research Council's (MRC) Senior team and Council members at a dissemination event. Council members were interested in understanding more about the CaTS tool and its potential for implementation. Jo and Camilla presented a poster detailing preliminary work on the development of CaTS from a paper tool to an online resource. The council were particularly interested in understanding how patient and public involvement (PPI) and collaborative work and co-production were integral to the project. Following the event, the MRC indicated that items raised during and as a result of the visit will be taken to their Executive Board for consideration in ongoing policy/strategy development.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://digitalyouth.ac.uk/digital-youth-researchers-invited-to-share-their-work-on-self-harm/
 
Description Presentation ESRC Data Strategy group - Arseneault 2023 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Other audiences
Results and Impact Presented the Catalogue of Mental Health Measures to the ESRC Data Strategy Team in February 2023
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Presentation at Ann Freud Centre - Arseneault 2021 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Other audiences
Results and Impact Anna Freud Centre Transformation Seminar Series. Social relationships and their impact on
mental health and wellbeing. Online meeting. January 2021. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqEvDgRx5jY).
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
URL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqEvDgRx5jY
 
Description Presentation at Colt Foundation Annual Research Meeting - Bryan 2023 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Postgraduate students
Results and Impact Members of the Colt Foundation, trustees and funded researchers attend that yearly meeting in London. We get to hear about the future direction of the Foundation and also research conducted by students funded by this stimulating and supportive charity. Title of the presentation: 'Loneliness and employment outcomes in young adulthood'
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Presentation at Gentofte Hospital - Arseneault 2022 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Undergraduate students
Results and Impact Presented research findings at Gentofte Hospital Copenhagen in Denmark.
Robust tests of the impact of childhood bullying victimization on mental health problems: Implications for policy, practice, and research
Monday October 3rd 2022
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description Presentation at the Minderoo 'UNLH Community LAB - Chatbots and young people' 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Josimar Mendes delivered a presention regarding chatbots and young people's mental health
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Presentation at the SGDP Centre - weekly seminar series - Bryan 2023 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Postgraduate students
Results and Impact Title of the presentation: 'Socioeconomic consequences of loneliness in young adulthood'
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Presentation at the session 'Responsible Engagement and Innovation' at the 'Oxford Inside Out Festival' 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Postgraduate students
Results and Impact Josimar Mendes delivered a presention called 'Young People's Participation and Their Best Interests - What's the Role of Responsible Research and Innovation?' for a diverse group of researchers
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Press release for the SPARX UK trial 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact We issued a press release to promote the SPARX UK project
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/news/online-games-young-people
 
Description Project demonstrations as part of Nottingham Festival of Science and Curiosity 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Workshops with sixth form college in Nottingham and introductions to SPARX and Purrble at Nottingham Library as part of Nottingham Festival of Science and Curiosity February 2023)
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://nottsfosac.co.uk/2023-festival/
 
Description Project meeting with a UK Government member 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Evening event with other members of the AMHDM project with a UK government member looking at how impact from the AMHDM project could be applied at a policy level within the UK government to improve mental health services.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
 
Description Radio 5 live 31st Jan 2022. Nihal Arthanayake show. 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Discussion with host about the impact of pandemic and associated restrictions on university students.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
URL https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001407l
 
Description Radio Interview for BBC Oxford 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Dr Lucassen (City University) appeared on BBC Radio Oxford to promote the SPARX project and trial.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://uniofnottm-my.sharepoint.com/personal/camilla_babbage_nottingham_ac_uk/_layouts/15/stream.as...
 
Description Roundtable discussion with No.10 Downing Street Mar 2022 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Members of Digital Youth including myself, Prof Ellen Townsend,, Prof Peter Fonagy our YPAG Co-Chairs Sarah Doherty and Lucy-Paige Willingham were invited by William Warr at No.10 Downing Street to attend a roundtable discussion around adolescent mental health in March 2022. Following the discussion, as a programme we worked on a 2-page document with policy recommendations which we submitted to William Warr in April 2022.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://digitalyouth.ac.uk/digital-youth-recommendations-for-improving-online-mental-health/
 
Description Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCPSYCH) International Congress 2023 Conference Keynote: "Digital mental health: the good, the bad, and the ugly" 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Conference Keynote: "Digital mental health: the good, the bad, and the ugly"

Royal College of Psychiatrists International Conference, Liverpool, UK, July 2023 (Hollis, Co-PI)
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/events/congress2023/ic23-keynote-speakers
 
Description Self-Harm Learning Network Conference 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Presentation given on work developing CaTS-App tool and an evaluation of the Self-Harm Research Network project.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://schools.westsussex.gov.uk/Article/113900
 
Description Sense about Science Evidence Week UK Parliament 14-18Nov 2022 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Digital Youth was invited by UKRI to take part in UK Parliament Evidence Week in Nov 2022. I travelled to Westminster with Nkem from our Sprouting Minds young persons' advisory group to speak to politicians and policymakers about the Digital Youth Programme and our research into the impact of the digital world on the mental health of young people. We spoke to MPs, including Nottingham South MP Lilian Greenwood, about the importance of our research. Evidence Week brings together MPs, Peers, parliamentary services, researchers, and people from different walks of life across the UK to talk about why evidence matters in policymaking
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://senseaboutscience.org/what-is-evidence-week/evidence-week-2022/
 
Description Submitted written evidence to the UK government in response to call for evidence on screen time and its impact on education and wellbeing in young people. 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Digital Youth submitted written evidence to the UK government in response to call for evidence on screen time and its impact on education and wellbeing in young people. Prof Sonia Livingstone (WP3, DIORA) led our response.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://committees.parliament.uk/work/7912/screen-time-impacts-on-education-and-wellbeing/
 
Description Thompson 2023 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Katie Thompson contributed an oral presentation at the European Psychiatric Association Paris Congress (2023). The presentation was entitled 'Do Children with ADHD Symptoms Become Socially Isolated? Longitudinal within-Person Associations in a Nationally Representative Cohort'
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Thompson 2023 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Katie Thompson contributed a poster at the Sociogenomics workshop in Helsinki (2023). The poster was entitled 'The overlap between social isolation and mental health symptoms: Longitudinal independent pathway model in a nationally representative cohort'
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Thompson 2023 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Poster presentation by Katie Thompson at the International Convention of Psychological Science (2023). The poster was entitled: Do Children with ADHD Symptoms Become Socially Isolated? Longitudinal within-Person Associations in a Nationally Representative Cohort
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Thompson 2023 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Katie Thompson wrote a blog for Cardiff University.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://blogs.cardiff.ac.uk/innovation/2024/02/07/do-experiences-of-social-isolation-impact-the-ment...
 
Description Thompson 2023 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Katie Thompson presented a poster at the European Social Science Genetics Network (2023). The poster was entitled 'The overlap between social isolation and mental health symptoms: Longitudinal independent pathway model in a nationally representative cohort'
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Visit to Digital Youth from Lilian Greenwood MP 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Lilian Greenwood MP visited researchers from Digital Youth and Sprouting Minds, to learn more about our pioneering research into young people's mental health and wellbeing in a digital world. On Friday 3 March the director of the Institute of Mental Health, Professor Martin Orrell, welcomed Ms Greenwood, Labour MP for Nottingham South, to a round-table discussion, along with myself and Digital Youth co-lead Professor Ellen Townsend. The visit came after a meeting in November at UK Parliament's 'Evidence Week', where I introduced Ms Greenwood to our work. Also in attendance were Digital Youth researchers and members of our young people's advisory group Sprouting Minds.
Dr Jo Lockwood led the session with a presentation about the impact of self harm on children and young adults, including her work on the CaTS-APP intervention. This was followed by an introduction to our Purrble project from Dr Amy Jess Williams, with everyone given the opportunity to experience Purrble, a small furry robot used to aid emotion regulation in young people who self harm. Ms Greenwood had the opportunity to question researchers and engaged in a lively and thought-provoking debate, taking an interest particularly in the perspectives of the younger voices in the room. She offered to support the team in taking our work further in Parliament, and we look forward to working with her in future and raising the profile of this vital area of research.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://twitter.com/MindTech_Doc/status/1631696972338831360
 
Description Webinar: Tooled Up Education and Professor Ellen Townsend: What Every Parent Needs to Know About Self-Harm. 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Discussion and presentation about what parents need to know about self-harm in young people.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021,2022
URL https://www.tooledupeducation.com/
 
Description Workshop for frontline staff as part of CaTS early engagement work with stakeholders at the 8th National Self-Harm and Suicide Prevention Conference in March 2023 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Workshop for frontline staff as part of CaTS early engagement work with stakeholders at the 8th National Self-Harm and Suicide Prevention Conference in March 2023 (WP8) Conference run by Harmless.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
URL https://harmless.org.uk/conferences/
 
Description Workshop for project team members to learn about RRI (Responsible Research and Innovation) in Nottingham 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Other audiences
Results and Impact A workshop session led within the AMHDM half-yearly Huddle event in Nottingham on Sep 22 where the RRI team from Oxford presented an overview of RRI within the project and engaged and supported other team members with how to consider RRI within their own research projects and use tools such as RRI prompt cards to inspire their own work.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022