ORIGIN aims to have a positive impact on the mental health of 16–24-year-olds. The research is led by Dr Rebecca Syed Sheriff at the University of Oxford and builds on very promising preliminary research that showed the enthusiasm of underrepresented young people for online arts and culture (like an online museum) to support their mental health.
The research is funded by the NIHR and projected to run from 2023 to 2028 and is a collaboration between NHS Trusts and multiple UK universities, with museum and charity partners. The study involves diverse people aged 16-24 co-designing an online arts and culture intervention aimed at reducing anxiety and depression.
Community engagement and collaboration is at the heart of ORIGIN, by this we mean young people who don’t feel heard, feel excluded or feel disadvantaged in some way. This could include people with neurodiversity (including autism and ADHD), people from different ethnic backgrounds, people from disadvantaged backgrounds, those who are unemployed or at risk of exclusion or people who identify as LGBTQIA+.
Shape the future of research – Opportunity for 16–24-year-olds
ORIGIN are recruiting 16–24-year-olds to join a new research advisory group (ORAG).
They are particularly looking for people living in England who have personal experience of mental health problems (these do not need to have been diagnosed) and they are keen to hear from people who feel their voices are not well represented.
The fee structure equates to £12.50 for every hour of ORAG members’ time.
If you know someone who would be interested, please direct them to the recruitment page.