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Children and Young People’s Mental Health

Workstream leads

Professor Rebecca Elliott

Professor of Affective Neuroscience,

University of Manchester

Professor Helen Minnis

Professor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry,

University of Glasgow

This workstream was originated by Professor Jonathan Green and developed with colleagues across the UK.

Professor Jonathan Green

Clinical Professor of Child and Adolescent Psychology

University of Manchester

Research focus

The Children and Young People’s (CYP) Mental Health workstream is a nationally coordinated initiative within the Mental Health Translational Research Collaboration (MH-TRC) Mission, developed in response to the urgent challenges facing child and adolescent mental health services. The focus of the workstream has been advanced through collaboration across leading UK institutions and seeks to transform the research infrastructure supporting CYP mental health.

Its scientific focus spans four key domains: establishing multisite clinical research infrastructure, standardising clinical measures, identifying biomarkers and risk markers for mental health conditions, and advancing digital technologies for intervention and care. These areas are critical to improving diagnostic precision, treatment efficacy, and service delivery for children and young people experiencing mental health difficulties.

Regional context

The workstream is supported by a consortium of leading academic and NHS institutions, including Cambridge and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, the University of Glasgow, the University of Manchester, and the University of Nottingham. These partners contribute regionally grounded expertise and infrastructure, enabling the workstream to address diverse population needs and service contexts across the UK.

In addition, the workstream collaborates closely with MH-TRC demonstrator sites, the Mental Health Mission Midlands Translational Centre (MHM MTC) and the Mental Health Research for Innovation Centre (M-RIC) to ensure alignment between national research priorities and local innovation. These partnerships facilitate the integration of research findings into practice and support the development of scalable, regionally responsive solutions.

Research aims

The CYP Mental Health workstream aims to modernise and strengthen the research foundations of child and adolescent mental health care. Its objectives include:

  • Infrastructure Development: Building capacity for multisite clinical trials and research programmes that can generate robust, generalisable findings.
  • Standardisation of Measures: Establishing common diagnostic tools and clinical metrics to improve consistency and comparability across studies.
  • Biological Insights: Investigating biomarkers and risk markers to better understand vulnerability and resilience in mental health, with a view to informing preventative and personalised interventions.
  • Digital Innovation: Exploring and implementing digital technologies to enhance access, engagement, and effectiveness of mental health interventions.

These aims are operationalised through four interconnected work packages:

  • Research Data: Led by Tamsin Ford and Anna Moore (University of Cambridge), with Jonathan Green (University of Manchester), this package focuses on linking health, education, and social care data via the Children and Adolescents Data Resource (CADRE) platform and standardising diagnostic tools. We have worked closely with the Data and Digital workstream to take this work package forward.
  • Biomarkers and Risk Markers: Led by Rebecca Elliott and Shruti Garg (University of Manchester), this package investigates biological correlates of mental health conditions.
  • Translational Practice: Led by Shruti Garg (University of Manchester) and Charlotte Hall and Jacob Andrews (University of Nottingham), this package develops digital interventions and explores brain stimulation techniques.
  • Patient and Public Involvement, Engagement and Participation (PPIEP): Lead by Sharon Graham and Helen Minnis (University of Glasgow), this package will engage children and families to streamline processes and overcome barriers in the research environment.

Impact

This workstream is positioned to deliver transformative outcomes for CYP mental health services. By integrating biological, clinical, and digital research, it aims to generate actionable insights that improve early identification, intervention, and long-term outcomes. The development of standardised tools and scalable digital solutions will enhance service efficiency and accessibility, while the expansion of research capacity ensures sustainability and innovation within the sector. Through its strategic focus and collaborative model, the CYP Mental Health workstream contributes to a future where mental health care for children and young people is evidence-based, equitable, and responsive to emerging needs.

More details about ongoing workstream initiatives can be requested from Sarah Ashton, Children and Young People’s Mental Health Workstream Project Manager.