Mental Health in Young People research initiative
‘Mental Health in Young People’ is a research initiative at the University of Bristol, led by the Elizabeth Blackwell Institute. The initiative is looking at ways to improve mental health and wellbeing for young people, with a particular focus on University students.
A growing concern
Mental health is one of the most challenging public health issues of our time. Nationally, and indeed globally, there is increasing concern about the mental health challenges facing young people as a result of the growing pressures of living, studying and working in today’s world.
Approximately one in four people in the UK will experience a mental health problem each year, and around 75% of adults with mental illness first experience symptoms before the age of 25. Students sometimes struggle; a recent analysis by Universities UK (UUK) highlighted a six-fold increase in the number of UK students who disclose a mental health condition to their university since 2007.
Tackling the issue together
As a research-intensive University, Bristol is well placed to develop evidence-based strategies to support student mental health and wellbeing. With a network of academics from different backgrounds, and with strong Students' Union representation, the Mental Health in Young People research initiative brings together experts in mental health and wellbeing to deliver high quality research in this area.
Elizabeth Blackwell Institute shares the University-wide commitment to the work, with the initiative reflecting the cross-disciplinary and whole-University nature of the challenges and issues to be addressed. Experts in multi-disciplinary research, Elizabeth Blackwell Institute brings together researchers from different disciplines, facilitating meetings and workshops to tackle this issue head on.
Students at the heart of our research
Once data is analysed to evaluate the impact of our wellbeing initiatives, researchers take an evidence-based and thoughtful approach to developing and refining future approaches, ensuring that students at the University of Bristol can see the outcomes of the research they contribute to.
Steering the initiative
The Mental Health in Young People research initiative Steering Group is chaired by Professor Sarah Purdy, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Student Experience). The Elizabeth Blackwell Institute Vice-Chancellor’s Fellow in Young People’s Mental Health, Myles-Jay Linton is closely aligned with the work of the initiative.
The initiative includes representatives from the Students' Union; Student Services; Students Health Service; Development and Alumni Relations Office; Brigstow Institute; Bristol Health Partners; and academics from across the University representing all Faculties.
The work of the Mental Health in Young People research initiative complements the University of Bristol’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Student Strategy.
Get in touch
If you would like more information, or would like to join the Mental Health in Young People research initiative network, please contact ebi-mentalhealthyp-research@bristol.ac.uk
If you work for the University of Bristol and would like to join our research initiative visit our Intranet for more information.