Overview

Theme lead

Contact: mhdevelopment@psych.ox.ac.uk
Website: mhid.org.uk

Research Focus

This Theme is dedicated to advancing mental health science for children and young people aged 0–18 by developing targeted, effective, and accessible interventions. With mental health challenges increasingly prevalent among younger populations, and many affected individuals receiving limited or ineffective support, there is an urgent need for innovative approaches. The Theme aims to deepen understanding of the biological, psychological, and social mechanisms underlying mental health problems in childhood and adolescence, and to translate this knowledge into developmentally sensitive prevention and treatment strategies.

Regional Context

The research is led by Oxford Health BRC in partnership with the University of Oxford, and includes collaboration with the Universities of Birmingham, Reading, Liverpool, Oxford Brookes, and York, as well as Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust. This multi-institutional network enables broad geographical reach and diverse population engagement, supporting the development of scalable interventions and facilitating national impact. The collaboration also integrates expertise across disciplines including psychiatry, psychology, education, and public health.

Research Aims

The Theme is structured around four interlinked work packages (WPs), each designed to address key challenges in child and adolescent mental health:

• WP1: Innovation in Involvement and Research Methods
  This work package will develop novel research methodologies and participatory models to engage children, young people, families, and communities. Drawing on expertise from the social sciences, humanities, and creative arts, the aim is to capture diverse perspectives and experiences to inform intervention design.
• WP2: Identification and Modification of Mechanisms
  This package focuses on co-designing tools to identify and modify mechanisms that contribute to the onset and persistence of common mental health problems. It will assess biological, psychological, and social factors, including complex and transdiagnostic contexts, and prioritise the development of scalable digital tools suitable across age groups.
• WP3: Research-Ready Networks
  This work will establish networks of family hubs, schools (preschool, primary, and secondary), and clinics to support recruitment into longitudinal and experimental studies. These networks will enable the identification and testing of key mechanisms and novel interventions across diverse settings and populations.
• WP4: National Engagement and Collaboration
  This package will leverage existing cohort studies in regions with marked inequalities, including Born in Bradford, the Wirral Study, and C-GULL Liverpool. Collaborations with the Universities of York and Liverpool will support the identification of intervention targets and facilitate testing in varied contexts through established networks.

Impact

This Theme is positioned to transform mental health care for children and young people by accelerating the development of evidence-based, personalised interventions. Through its multidisciplinary approach and national reach, the research will contribute to the Department of Health and Social Care’s goal of halving the prevalence of mental health problems in young populations. The Theme also supports capacity building in mental health research, with leadership from the NIHR Mental Health Incubator and a commitment to training early-career researchers. Its infrastructure and innovation will ensure long-term impact across clinical, educational, and community settings.