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 how we address those challenges through interventions that offer practical help to young people.

We include young people, schools, those at high-familial risk and patients, in every stage of our research. Our Youth Advisory Group and stakeholders help shape our research and practice aims, and work with us as we design and conduct 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 currently running our flagship Skills for Adolescent Wellbeing (SWELL) study where we will work with young people and their parents to develop new interventions to support families where a parent suffers from depression.

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Mental health interventions in schools

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

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Population and patient e-data cohort

Using data uniquely available in Wales, our researchers at Cardiff University are working jointly with experts from Swansea University to better understand long-term outcomes for 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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