Recently, the NIHR Oxford Health Biomedical Research Centre’s Mental Health in Development (MHID) Theme Meeting bought together researchers, clinicians, and collaborators at New Radcliffe House. The event showcased the MHID theme’s commitment to developing targeted, effective, and accessible mental health interventions for children and young people, with a strong emphasis on inclusion, co-design, and real-world impact.
The day began with a welcome from Prof Cathy Creswell, MHID Theme Lead, who set the tone for a programme focused on progress, partnership, and purpose. “We’re not just building interventions—we’re building trust, relevance, and equity into every layer of our research,” she said, underscoring the theme’s ethos of community-informed science.
Morning sessions featured updates from key MHID initiatives including WISDOM, INSIGHTS, and AIM. The WISDOM Schools Research Network, based at the University of Oxford, has now engaged with over 1,000 schools across England, forging partnerships with academy trusts, charities, and social enterprises. Their efforts to enhance mental health support in schools include qualitative studies, interventions, and curated wellbeing resources.
The AIM project (Adaptive Innovative Measurement) presented its work on developing new measures of emotion regulation, including the Children’s Response Styles Questionnaire and a Resources Toolkit. These tools aim to refine psychological treatments by measuring and manipulating mechanisms that influence mental health outcomes.
Training and Capacity Development Manager Andreia Costa highlighted the upcoming OH BRC Neurodiversity Conference, the first of its kind, scheduled for September 2025. Her presentation emphasized the importance of inclusive training environments and the validation of lived experiences through initiatives like the NDV Podcast and Neurodiverse Voices Project
A standout moment came from Dr. Yu Wei Chua of the University of Liverpool, whose presentation on mental health inequalities across childhood and adolescence drew on data from the UK Millennium Cohort Study. Her analysis revealed the persistent nature of socioeconomic disparities and the critical role of early interventions in mitigating these gaps. The session sparked thoughtful discussion on evidence gaps and implementation challenges
Afternoon sessions included updates from the Supporting Early Minds Research Network, the AnDY Research Clinic, and the Parent Carer Research Network. These presentations highlighted the breadth of MHID’s work—from trauma recovery in infants to anxiety treatment in adolescents—and the value of collaborative, community-informed approaches
The meeting concluded with a shared sense of momentum and purpose. As the MHID theme continues to evolve, the day’s discussions reinforced a collective ambition: to deliver research that is rigorous, inclusive, and responsive to the needs of children, young people, and families.
Reflecting on the day Prof Creswell said: “Today’s meeting was a celebration of how far we’ve come and a springboard for what’s next. The energy in the room reflected a growing confidence in our shared ability to shape a future where mental health research is not only innovative, but truly inclusive and impactful for every child, young person, and family we serve.”
Read more details about the eventful day in the MHID blog post on their website
Contact the MHID team by email: mhdevelopment@psych.ox.ac.uk
