Research

We work across developmental and clinical psychiatry, genetics, social sciences and neuroscience, to better understand depression and anxiety in young people.

Our work aims to achieve transformational change in the way we understand the challenges of adolescent mental health and the way we address it through interventions that offer practical help to young people.

We aim to include young people, schools, those at high-familial risk and patients, in every stage of our research. Engaging young people and stakeholders in shaping our research and practice aims, and designing and conducting new interventions to improve adolescent mental health in health and school settings.

Our ambition is for our scientific discoveries to rapidly inform policy and practice, and act as a catalyst in the field of youth anxiety and depression.

Themes

Population mental health

We examine longitudinal data that tracks children over time to better understand how anxiety and depression develop.

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Genetics

Investigating the role genetic and environmental factors play in anxiety and depression in young people is essential to understanding these conditions.

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Interventions in adolescents at high familial risk

We are developing new interventions to support young people and families where a parent suffers from depression.

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Mental health interventions in schools

We’re looking at the role schools play in promoting positive mental health in youngsters.

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Population and patient e-data cohort

Our researchers at Cardiff University are working jointly with experts from Swansea University, using information uniquely available in Wales to better understand long-term outcomes of those young people who experience anxiety and depression.

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Quantitative methods and open science

An over-arching Centre wide theme focused on ensuring our teams are well-trained in research methods and open science practices.

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