Current Studies

​TOWARDS A STANDARD MINIMUM DATASET FOR COUNSELLING SERVICES EMBEDDED IN HIGHER AND FURTHER EDUCATION
As part of the Student Counselling Outcomes Research and Evaluation (SCORE)  initiative, we’re exploring the data that services routinely collect about their students who access counselling or mental health teams within the sector. Knowing this information will identify similarities and gaps in data collection that will inform the development of a standard minimum dataset for the sector. To inform this goal, we would like to hear from students, researchers and practitioners to learn about the types of data that should be collected by student counselling and mental health services, and learn how this varies from the data that is being collected. 

This activity has been launched with a short survey that will lead to a series of online consultations to continue these conversations concerning priority areas for data collection in student support services. 

Access the survey here: 
https://sheffieldpsychology.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bqFjaBxjuCzgHWZ
THE MEANINGFULNESS OF THE CURRICULUM PROJECT
🕘 20 MINUTES ​​​​
What is the purpose of the project?
We want to understand students thoughts about WHAT they get taught and how this impacts their mental health and wellbeing.  

Our hypothesis is that some of the student’s curriculum has less relevance and meaning for them, and where this is the case, it may have a more negative impact on mental health and wellbeing.  

We are not proposing that curriculum necessarily needs to change, but that if our hypothesis is supported, we may want to think about how we support academics to explain the meaning and relevance of content for students.  

This is a subproject of 'The Education for Wellbeing' project, for more information on this project please contact rebecca.j.upsher@kcl.ac.uk

Why have I been invited to take part?
We would like to test this on a large number of students, therefore we are inviting all undergraduate and postgraduate taught students based in the UK to take part.
Incentives
There will be a prize draw for the online survey, with prizes of up to £50 of shopping vouchers. At the end of the survey, you will indicate whether you would like to be entered into the prize draw. Your email address will be stored separately to your survey responses, ensuring that your survey responses remain anonymous. 

To take part please click here.
​​INVESTIGATING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN STRESS AND MENTAL HEALTH IN YOUNG ADULTHOOD​
🕘 20 MINUTES ​​​
University of Edinburgh sponsor number CAHSS2002/03

Our research is investigating the relationship between stress and mental health in young adults. In order to gain valid results, we are recruiting participants aged between 16 – 25, to take part in our short questionnaire that takes about 15-20 minutes to complete. Questions will address what stressful situations the participants encounter, how they cope with them, along with their mental health.

Please find the information sheet for this study linked below. 
​
Link to online survey: https://edinburgh.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8e8zvYrrBAfqDZz
information_sheet.docx
File Size: 67 kb
File Type: docx
Download File
​EATING DISORDER SERVICE PROVISION FOR UNIVERSITY STUDENTS - PROFESSIONALS SURVEY
🕘 5 MINUTES
From our work in this area and previous research, we know that accessing professional support can be challenging. We know that students can find it difficult to receive continuous health care as move between home and university. We also know that good, early support is important.There have been many calls for universities and GP services to provide and commission specialist support appropriate for the needs of university students. Student Minds, are launching an audit to establish to what extent appropriate services are available to support students with eating disorders.

This research project will form one component of that audit. While we are consulting students, to gain an insight into their experience, we are very keen to hear from professionals involved in supporting students, providing or coordinating treatment. The focus of this consultation is to establish from professionals:
1. To what extent do students with experience of eating disorders receive appropriate, sufficient and timely treatment and support;
2. What are the barriers and facilitators to provision of appropriate support; 
3. Are there examples of good practice in supporting students with eating disorders at university. 

We are inviting professionals with experience of supporting students with eating disorders to take part. This might be in terms of providing or coordinating treatment. Alternatively, it may be in a less formal capacity. 

To complete the survey and for further information: https://kcliop.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cRMPrBjOmJNeVal
EMOTIONAL DISTRESS AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE in undergraduate students
#1462, APPROVED BY THE ASTON UNIVERSITY LIFE AND HEALTH SCIENCES ETHICS COMMITTEE

CURRENTLY SEEKING UNDERGRADUATE AND MSC STUDENTS FROM ASTON UNIVERSITY TO TAKE PART IN A STUDY INTO FACTORS THAT PREDICT EMOTIONAL DISTRESS AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE. PARTICIPANTS WILL BE ASKED TO TAKE PART IN A SERIES OF EXERCISES AND QUESTIONNAIRES, AND WILL BE REWARDED EITHER WITH 18 SONA CREDITS OR A £10 AMAZON VOUCHER. OPEN THE FILE BELOW FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT WILL BE ASKED OF PARTICIPANTS.

RESEARCHER SAMANTHA JORDAN IS CONDUCTING THIS RESEARCH WITH THE INTENTION OF ULTIMATELY TRIALING SEVERAL INTERVENTIONS FOR NEW UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS, DESIGNED TO INCREASE EMOTIONAL RESILIENCE AND IMPROVE ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE.

CONTACT SAMANTHA JORDAN VIA S.JORDAN@ASTON.AC.UK TO TAKE PART OR FIND OUT MORE.
experiences of University counsellors
🕘 45 - 60 MINUTES  ​
Edinburgh Napier University are conducting valuable on-going research into role of technology in facilitating emotion work and specifically counselling. They are inviting counsellors who have been required to change working practices and work from home, using Zoom or other technology to conduct counselling sessions, to take part in their study.
Participants will be required to take part in a recorded online interview lasting approximately 45-60 minutes and discuss their experiences of using technology to build relationships and the barriers and enablers you have encountered using technology to counsel.

To take part please email: j.oneil@napier.ac.uk or b.heidl@napier.ac.uk.

For further information please download the Participant Information Letter. 
​
Graduate employment, aspirations and wellbeing in the context of COVID-19  ​
🕘 15 MINUTES ​​​
What is the purpose of the study?
This study aims to identify how university students and recent graduates are coping with the coronavirus pandemic and its aftermath, in terms of finding work and new opportunities, coping with work-related pressures and wellbeing. The findings will be used to help develop ways to support recent graduates and students in terms of employment, innovation and developing resilience.

Why have I been invited to participate?
Participation is entirely voluntary and open to university students and recent graduates living in the UK aged between 18-29 years. Participants might be currently studying on an undergraduate or master’s programme or have completed their degree between 2013 and 2020. We are planning to recruit 3000 students.

Do I have to take part?
No, it is up to you to decide whether or not to take part in this study. If you do decide to take part this information sheet explains how your data will be collected and used and you will be invited to complete one survey now and opt in to receive a follow-up email six months later asking you to complete another short survey.
If you decide to take part you are free to withdraw at any point until you press the submit button, after this time your responses will be de-identified and it will not be possible to withdraw your responses. Your participation in this study will have no impact on your current or future study or employment.

What will happen to me if I take part?
The survey will ask you about yourself (your age, gender, ethnicity, educational history, employment, aspirations and your wellbeing. Some of these questions are considered sensitive data, such as questions on your ethnicity and wellbeing. We will also give you the option of providing an email address to contact you for the follow-up survey. However, this email address will be removed from the rest of the answers you give before any analysis takes place and will be deleted as soon as the study finishes. Your email address will not be passed to any third parties. Your anonymous data will then be analysed by researchers from OBU and will be published in scientific papers and used to inform advice given during Covid-19. Nobody will be able to identify you from the anonymous data we analyse or from any publications.

​To take part please click here.

MENTAL HEALTH STATUS AND INFLUENCING FACTORS AMONG LGBT PERSONS
🕘 20 MINUTES
Approved by the De Montfort University (DMU) Research Ethics Committee.

As part of my MSc degree, I am conducting a study designed to assess the mental health status of LGBT persons in comparison with cisgender heterosexual counterparts. Participants are required to be 18+, self-identify as either LGBT or heterosexuals. The online questionnaire is estimated to take approximately 20 minutes. Please feel free to share it with your network. Thank you! ​

To participate: https://dmupsy.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8r0ohPUKSBpSyHP
You can contact the researcher via email: P2548446@my365.dmu.ac.uk, or the Supervisor via yuanyuan.wang@dmu.ac.uk
ACCELERATING INNOVATION IN HEALTHCARE
The Centre for Technology Management, part of the Institute for Manufacturing, is inviting researchers, clinicians, research translation specialists, industrial specialists and young people aged between 18-25, to take part in a project to progress innovations for the early detection and prevention of depression in young people.

The context
More young people than ever are suffering from depression, which may recur repeatedly in adulthood. Unfortunately current treatments are not sufficient and between 50-75% of patients experience a relapse.

This project will bring together experts from across different fields to innovate and develop ideas for innovations that support the early detection, treatment and prevention of depression in young people.

Responding to new thinking
An increasing body of research suggests that depression is not ‘all in the mind’. Rather, it arises from a complex set of interactions – across the life course – within and between:

  • Our body’s biological systems, in particular, our nervous, endocrine and immune systems, our gut microbiota; and our genes and how they are turned on or off.
  • Underlying health conditions we might have.
  • The choices we make about exercise, diet, sleep, and substance use.
  • Our social, emotional, physical and economic environments.
  • Psychological factors such as our perceptions of stress and the effectiveness of our coping strategies.

This new knowledge offers significant opportunities for intervention early in the cycle – while depression is a physical condition, and before it becomes a mental health condition.

Causual pathways of depression in young people
A key project partner for this study, the Foundation for Young People’s Mental
Health (YPMH), has used engineering methods, such as root cause analysis, to
‘join up’ research from biological, psychological and social disciplines to identify
pathways by which depression develops in young people (available at www.ypmh.org/ChangingMinds).

This project will explore five focus areas identified by YPMH as opportunities for early intervention.

The five focus areas are:
      A: Genes and epigenetics
      B: Gut-microbiota-brain axis
      C: HPA axis and glucocorticoid receptor resistance
      D: Inflammation, IDO, tryptophan and the kynurenine pathway
      E: Individual’s diet and nutrition, exercise and sleep

Who should take part
We are looking for participants from a wide range of backgrounds and with specific expertise:

  • Researchers with expertise in one (or more) of the five focus areas; development of focus area(s) over the life course; adjacent areas, e.g. neuroscience, social and environmental factors; psychology and cognition; imaging, diagnostics
  • Clinicians including GPs, clinical psychologists and psychiatrists with interest in young people’s mental health; one (or more) of the five focus areas; interest in integrated physical / mental health
  • Research translation specialists with an interest in integrated physical and mental health
  • Industrial specialists with the following expertise are sought: diagnostics; exercise; gut microbiota; health insurance; nutrition; pharmaceutical; pre and probiotics; sports; wearables; wellbeing
  • Young people aged 18-25 with one or more of the following: an interest in young people’s mental health; lived experience of depression; medical biology; psychiatry

What's involved
Participants will be involved in the following project steps:

1. Webinar (one for each focus area) - November 2020Exploring opportunities for early intervention in one (or more, if desired) parts of the causal pathways for depression in young people.

2. Online workshop (one for each focus area) - December 2020Present and explore ideas for early identification, diagnosis (of causes), treatment and prevention of depression.

3. Online workshop - January 2020Review, evaluate and prioritise ideas, developing topic roadmaps for each priority idea.

4. Report - February 2020Participants will get visibility of a draft report and will be welcome to review, validate and feedback on project outputs before the report is published in February 2020.
​Get involved

To find out more or register an interest in taking part in this project, please
contact Peter Templeton, Executive Director, Strategic Development:

e: pwt23@cam.ac.uk

Previous Studies (Closed)

​MEASURING STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH​
MRA-18/19-10611, approved by the KCL Research Ethics Committee
​
SMaRteN are creating guidance on measuring student well-being in Higher Education. We are looking for some more voices to contribute to our consultation on measuring student mental health and well-being! If you are a student, or working in Higher Education in any capacity, we would love to hear from you.
​
To let us know your priorities about what captures student mental health and well-being, take part in our online consultation:
https://nupsych.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bHoGg9DUrfcP577
TRACKING STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH ACROSS THE TERM
LRS-17/18-5301, approved by the KCL Psychiatry, Nursing and Midwifery Research Ethics subcommittee. Students at any university in the UK can participate.

This study is recruiting students who have been feeling low recently to take part in the control group for a study to evaluate the efficacy of peer support for student mental health. As a control group, we are not asking you to do anything in particular to participate in this study - to participate you need to complete an online survey now and will be invited to complete a second online survey in a few months. The data you provide will, as part of a wider study, help us understand the efficacy of peer support for student mental health. 

The questionnaire can be completed online and takes approximately 10 minutes to fill in. Participants can register for a prize draw to win Amazon vouchers. For more information please visit: www.tinyurl.com/StudentMH1
​
For more information, please email the researcher - Dr Nicola Byrom (Nicola.byrom@kcl.ac.uk); Department of Psychology, IoPPN, 2.09 Addison House, Guy's Campus, Kings College London, SE1 1UL
​PUBLIC ATTITUDES TOWARDS SEVERE MENTAL ILLNESSES
King's College London Ethics Reference: HR-19/20-14909

Our aim is to understand public attitudes to serious mental illness, specifically psychosis and personality disorders. Upon completing the questionnaire, you will have the option to enter into a prize draw to win a shopping voucher worth £100 or £50.

More information and participate here
​BATTLE OF THE SCALES: IDENTIFYING SCALES TO EVALUATE STUDENT MENTAL-WELLBEING
​🕘 25 MINUTES 📅​​​ 24TH JULY 2020
King's College London Ethics Reference: LRS-19/20-15013

If you are an undergraduate or a postgraduate taught student, we’d like your help in testing measures of student wellbeing. You can help by completing a single online survey (completely anonymous), which will take around 25 minutes. In completing the survey, you will be entered into a prize draw to win £50 of shopping vouchers.

 We would like to identify scales to evaluate the impact on student mental well-being of innovative approaches to teaching. This forms part of a research project funded by the Office for Students to develop new resources to assist academics to support better student mental wellbeing. 

Participate here: https://kcliop.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eeWe4g9wTiLLa7j
Email rebecca.upsher@kcl.ac.uk for more information. Rebecca is the project research associate, coordinating recruitment.
SCREEN USE AND ADOLESCENT MENTAL HEALTH
​​🕘 10 MINUTES 📅​​​ 27TH JULY 2020
This research has been reviewed and given a favourable outcome by University College London Research Ethics Committee (Project ID: 14037/001)
​
We have identified a list of questions that young people, parents/carers, and teachers think are important about screen use and adolescent mental health. We want to hear from you which are the top 10 most important questions!

Taking part involves reading the electronic project information sheet and completing the online survey which should take approximately 10-15 minutes.

This research will help shape policy guidelines that will benefit young people in the future. It is being carried out by researchers at the NIHR Mental Health Policy Research Unit, based at University College London and King’s College London.

​To participate: https://tinyurl.com/uclpsych-screentime
​Connect with the researchers: @McPinYPNetwork,  @MentalHealthPRU,  @CentreforMH
PREDICTORS OF OUTCOME FOR AN ONLINE TRAINING DESIGNED TO REDUCE WORRY
🕘 3 - 80 MINUTES
HR-19/20-17692, research ethics approved by King's College London

We are looking for full-time students, aged between 18-25, who worry to complete a brief online training designed to reduce worry, and help us work out who finds it more effective.The study involves completing questionnaires and simple computer-based tasks online.

Research shows that for all types of psychological interventions, some people respond well, and others find them less helpful. This study will help us find factors associated with good or less good response to a simple online training programme. This information will then be used in future studies to work out if we can predict who will benefit from longer term training.

Please complete this 3-minute screening questionnaire to see if you are eligible to participate: ​https://research.sc/participant/login/dynamic/858A162C-6C80-4F55-951B-425EAAE3DED0

If you take part, you will complete 2 sessions of research within 48 hours (you may complete both sessions all at once if you prefer):
  • The first session will take about 25-minutes, where you will complete a battery of simple computer tasks.
  • The second session will take about 80-minutes where you will complete a single session of the online training (tasks will involve listening to scenarios and making judgements about them).
You will receive Sona research credits (for KCL psychology first year students only) or be entered into a draw to win 1 of 10 £20 gift voucher upon completion of the study.

If you would like further information about the research, please contact the main researcher Yun-Lin Wang (yun-lin.wang@kcl.ac.uk)
STUDENTS IN TRANSITION AT UNIVERSITY: AIMING TO ENHANCE MENTAL AND SOCIAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING (SITUATE) ​
​🕘 10 - 15 MINUTES 📅​​​ 31ST JULY 2020
This study has been reviewed and approved by the University of Sussex Sciences & Technology CREC (Cross-Schools Research Ethics Committee), reference: ER/RM645/1.

The SITUATE project, funded by the Office for Students, is designed to find out more about the mental and social health and wellbeing experiences of students as they move through university. 

We would like to invite undergraduate students (16 years +) studying at universities in the UK to take part in an online survey that will ask you about your experiences of moving through your education and the impact that this may or may not have had on you.

The survey will take up to 30 minutes to complete and you will have the chance to be entered into a prize draw to win a £50 first prize, or one of 15, £5 second prizes, following completion of the survey. We would also like to ask the same people to take part in the same survey at later dates. If you take part in future surveys, you will have the chance to win up to £350.

The findings will be used to develop ways to better support students as they move through university.

For more information and to take part in the survey, please follow the survey link: https://tinyurl.com/SITUATE-Survey1

The first wave of the survey will be open until 23:59 on 31/07/20

If you have any questions, please get in touch with the SITUATE research team via email at situate@sussex.ac.uk.
EVALUATING MENTAL HEALTH AMONGST UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS IN THE UK AND SAUDI ARABIA 
​​🕘 20 - 30 MINUTES
 Lifespan Learning and Sleep Laboratory at University College London

We are recruiting undergraduate students (aged 18 years or older) to complete 20-30 minutes survey about your Mental Health during COVID-19. 
Participants will be entered into a draw to win Amazon vouchers. 
There are 20 prizes worth £25. 

​Take part here

For more information contact: azizah.alyoubi.17@ucl.ac.uk

Research Ethics Number: 4906
STUDENTS’ EXPERIENCES OF COVID-19 (THE NEW CORONAVIRUS)
​​​🕘 20 - 30 MINUTES
You will be presented with an online questionnaire, which will ask you about your thoughts and feelings about yourself and the ongoing Covid-19 situation.

Participants: Male & female, over 18 years old & studying at University
Time required: Approx 20-30 minutes
Location: Online, can be completed in your own time on any computer

To take part please click here.  
​
Department of Psychology, College of Human and Health Sciences, Swansea University
If you have any questions or want further information, please contact: Dr Amy Romijn (A.R.Romijn@Swansea.ac.uk ) Dr Luke Jefferies (Luke.Jefferies@Swansea.ac.uk) or Dr Rachel Harrad (R.A.Harrad@Swansea.ac.uk)
This research has been approved by the Psychology Department, Research Ethics Committee, College of Human and Health Sciences, Swansea University
INVESTIGATING FACTORS THAT MAY INFLUENCE WHETHER PEOPLE WITH EXPERIENCES OF PSYCHOSIS ENGAGE WITH MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
🕘 25 MINUTES
The research has been granted ethical approval through Lancaster University's Ethics Committee.

We are trying to find out what influences whether people experiencing psychosis decide to use mental health services or not.

Psychosis might be seeing or hearing things (voices) that other people cannot, or having strong beliefs that others think are very unusual. Experiencing psychosis is sometimes linked with diagnoses like "schizophrenia", "schizoaffective disorder" or "delusional disorder", but not necessarily.

The study involves participants completing a short online survey, and there are five £30 Amazon vouchers to be won. 

Find out more and take part in the research: bit.ly/psychosisresearc
FAMILY BODY TALK, WELLBEING AND EATING ATTITUDES
​​🕘 15 MINUTES ​
What is the purpose of the project?

The purpose of this project is to increase our understanding of how families discuss body weight, shape and appearance, and if/how this relates to young people’s wellbeing, eating attitudes and kindness towards themselves.  

Who can take part?

Participants in this study should be aged between 18-25 years old.

What will I be asked to do and how long will it take?
  • You will be asked to complete an online survey containing questions related to how you and your family discuss body shape and weight, your psychological wellbeing, feelings of compassion towards yourself and your attitudes towards eating, shape and weight.
  • The questionnaires should take approximately 15 minutes to complete.
  • Some questions are personal, but you do not have to answer any questions you do not want to.

Once I take part, can I change my mind?

After you have read this information and asked any questions you may have if you are happy to participate we will ask you to provide informed consent. However, if at any time before or during the survey you wish to withdraw, simply close your browser and your responses will be discarded. Once your responses have been submitted, it will not be possible to withdraw your individual data from the research.

What are the possible benefits of participating?

All participants who complete the survey will be given the opportunity to be entered into a prize draw to win one of five £25 Amazon vouchers.

Are there any disadvantages or risks in participating?

There are no anticipated risks in participating in this study. However, some of the questions may raise issues that you need to discuss further. If you have any concerns, please contact one of the following:
  • Your GP
  • BEAT – the UK’s eating disorder charity supporting anyone affected by eating difficulties (0808 801 0677)
  • MIND – a service offering advice and support to anyone experience mental health problems (0300 123 3393)

I have some more questions; who should I contact?
​
Further information can be obtained from either Dr Hannah White (H.J.White@lboro.ac.uk) or Dr Carolyn Plateau (C.R.Plateau@lboro.ac.uk).

The survey is now live at https://lboro.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/family-body-talk
UNDERSTANDING WHAT MATTERS TO STUDENTS: DIMENSIONS OF QUALITY OF LIFE
🕘 60 MINUTES  📅​​​ ON HOLD
LRS-17/18-7273, approved by the PNM Research Ethics Committee at KCL and Faculty of Health & Life Sciences Ethics Committee at Northumbria University. Students at KCL or Northumbria university can participate.

The World Health Organization defines Quality of Life as “an individual’s perception of their position in life in the context of the culture and value systems in which they live and in relation to their goals, expectations, standards and concerns.” But what does Quality of Life mean to you?  

We’d like to hear your thoughts and get your help developing a new measure to assess quality of life for students. We are running interviews (these may take up to 60 minutes) to discuss quality of life with students aged 18-25. Interviewees will be reimbursed for their time with a £10 Amazon shopping voucher. If you think you might be interested, find out more and sign up to take part here: https://tinyurl.com/QoLresearch

For more information, please email Dr Nicola Byrom (Nicola.byrom@kcl.ac.uk); Department of Psychology, IoPPN, 2.09 Addison House, Guy's Campus, Kings College London, SE1 1UL
CARE EXPERIENCED STUDENTS IN HIGHER EDUCATION
🕘 - MINUTES ​​
REC1127, approved by the UCL Research Ethics Committee

Today, more and more young who have lived in foster care or residential care as a child are being encouraged and supported to continue with their education, but a recent study has shown that care-experienced young people at university are more likely leave before completing their course than other students. Researchers at University College London (UCL) have been commissioned by the Access and Widening Participation Team at UCL to carry out a study into how young people from a care background experience Higher Education. The aim of this study is to understand how care leavers experience higher education and how they can be better supported to complete their course.

We would like to speak to care leavers who are currently in their second or final year of a degree course and those who have previously attended university but did not complete their course. We would like to involve young people from a range of universities across London and the South East.

To find out more or sign up, visit https://studentsexperiencesinhighereducation.wordpress.com/; there is also an information available for download below.
Or contact Hanan Hauari  (h.hauari@ucl.ac.uk) or Katie Hollingworth (katie.hollingworth@ucl.ac.uk) on the research team.
GLAD: GENETIC LINKS TO ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION
🕘 30 MINUTES ​​​
What is the GLAD Study?
The Genetic Links to Anxiety and Depression (GLAD) Study launched this September and aims to recruit over 40,000 individuals. This is the world’s largest study of depression and anxiety and we hope to investigate the genetic, environmental and social risk factors for these disorders. Anyone aged 16 years or older who lives in England and has experienced anxiety or depression during their lifetime is encouraged to sign up. Participants will facilitate important future research by joining a recontactable database and the National Institute for Health Research Mental Health BioResource.
 
Why is it important?
Depression and anxiety are common but complex disorders and research into this requires a very large sample size. In the UK, more than a quarter of students report having a mental health problem, the most common of which are depression and anxiety. Psychological therapy, antidepressant and anti-anxiety drug treatments are more available than ever before, but only around half of those treated respond well. Through better understanding of mental health genetics, new and more effective treatment options can be developed, and healthcare professionals will be better equipped to predict which treatments work for specific types of patients. So far, over 40 genetic links for depression and anxiety have been identified and researchers know that 30-40% of depression and anxiety risk is genetic and 60-70% is environmental. However, current and previous mental health research has been limited by the access to volunteers with these disorders.
 
How can you help?
Taking part in the GLAD Study involves four simple steps. Firstly, you register online at www.gladstudy.org.uk and read the information sheet. Then you complete an online consent form, which is explained in more detail by an online animation. Following this you complete a 30-minute online eligibility questionnaire about your experiences of depression and/or anxiety to confirm you qualify to take part. Finally, if you meet the eligibility criteria you will be sent a saliva DNA kit in the post, along with a freepost envelope to send it back to us. You can get involved from the comfort of your own home!

For more information about the GLAD Study and how to take part, please go to www.gladstudy.org.uk or email gladstudy@kcl.ac.uk
​​PERCEPTIONS AND EXPERIENCES OF COUNSELLING PRACTITIONERS IN HIGHER EDUCATION WHEN SUPPORTING DIVERSE STUDENTS
University of Manchester review reference number 2020-8030-12932

​My research is exploring the perceptions and experiences of counselling practitioners in Higher Education when providing support to students who are diverse. Diverse in this regard could mean students from ethnic minority communities, students with disabilities and mature students. However this is not an exhaustive list. This is with the intention to explore some suggestions that could perhaps, improve counselling practitioners relations with diverse students.
​
Contact Waqar Younis with any questions and to participate: waqar.younis@postgrad.manchester.ac.uk
​KEEP IN TOUCH (KIT) STUDY
🕘 - MINUTES
In this study, we are trialling an online self-administered psychosensory technique called Havening. We think that this research is really important at this time when COVID-19 is causing anxiety for so many people. We will ask participants to use short videos of Havening practitioners to guide them as they self-administer the Havening technique. This will involve a variety of activities including stroking own arms and hands, whilst performing self-affirming and anxiety reducing tasks. The videos can be used as little or as often and wherever they chose. 

Participants will be asked to complete short online questionnaires about their mood, mental health and wellbeing.

To find out more and take part in this research: https://ntupsychology.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1UlRgaEgOsBy3iZ
​University of Edinburgh Sponsor Number: ETH1920-3186
What is this research project?
We are investigating how students respond to curriculum content, rather than the way it is taught. In this survey, we are interested in the perspectives of academic staff on curriculum content that may appear to cause emotional and psychological reactions such as loss of motivation, disengagement, frustration, or heightened levels of unhelpful stress.

Do I have to take part?
There is absolutely no obligation to take part in this research project. 

Why am I being asked to take part?
We are asking academics who teach undergraduate students in the UK to complete this survey.

If I agree to take part, what will I have to do?
You will be asked to complete a short qualitative survey, comprised of three question sets. The questions are mainly open text, you can provide as much or as little detail as you wish.
You will not be asked to share any personally identifiable data in this survey.

How will the answers I provide be used?
Your answers will be combined with the answers given by other participants and analysed for key lessons that we can learn.
The data will be aggregated and statistically analysed data will be used for the production of journal articles and conference presentations.

This survey is also part of a larger piece of work on this topic. We plan to use the findings from the whole project to produce guidance for academics to help develop curriculum and pedagogy that can improve learning and wellbeing.

Please note that if you consent to participate in this research you are agreeing to the information being used for these purposes.

How will the information be stored?
Your answers will be stored on a secure server that is protected by a password and only accessible by the research team. You will not be asked to share any personally identifiable data in this survey.

The answers you provide will be treated confidentially and you will not be identifiable in any reports or papers that are subsequently produced from the data we receive. 

Can I choose to withdraw my answers at a later date?
You will be asked to add a personal identifier when you complete the survey. Using this identifier, you can choose to withdraw your data, providing you inform us within 2 weeks of the survey closing (4th October 2020).

TO TAKE PART CLICK HERE
THINGS AND THE MIND
​​🕘 15 - 20 MINUTES ​​
What is the study about?  This study aims to explore the effect of material things such as everyday objects or places/environment on student wellbeing and mental health. Please help us know more.

Anonymity: We guarantee the survey is anonymous. It takes about 15-20 minutes to complete. We truly appreciate your time to illuminate this new and important field. 

Why, what am I contributing to? You will help develop the knowledge on the relationship between student mental health and material things and environments, support student services provision, inform policy and the outcome in the form of a book on student mental health experiences. 

If you change your mind: It’s completely up to you to decide whether you take part. Your participation is voluntary. You are free to withdraw at any time during your survey participation, but this is not possible afterwards and any responses provided will be recorded and used. It is unlikely that there will be any disadvantages to taking part. On the contrary, you can help many students and improve student well-being.

Data Usage: Your data and survey results will be stored in Qualtrics, Lancaster University protected software, and survey graphs and findings will be stored in encrypted files accessible to project PI and RA only, but again, we cannot know any names of survey participants. In accordance with University guidelines, we will keep the data securely for a minimum of ten years. 

We will use the data you have shared in the following ways: for research dissemination and publications purposes only. This will include, for example journal articles, presentations, and the project outcome in the form of an illustrated novel. We would also refer to survey results in the news media. We would always use anonymised quotes or pseudonyms when presenting the data. The illustrated novel will be publicly available. This study has been reviewed and approved by Lancaster University Research Ethics Committee. 

If you have any queries contact Natasa at the e-mail below, or if you are unhappy with anything that happens concerning your participation in the study, please contact Deborah Knight at this e-mail address: d.knight@lancaster.ac.uk

If you feel distressed at any point while completing the survey, please stop the survey or get back to it later. You might be able to get some advice from Student Minds web site: https://www.studentminds.org.uk/. 

This project is supported by SMaRTeN, the UK's biggest student mental health network, funded by UKResearch & InnovationI/Economic and Social Research Council. 

The project team, Dr Natasa Lackovic, Lecturer, Lancaster University e-mail: n.lackovic@lancaster.ac.uk   Monika Conti, Student, Lancaster UniversityWhat is the study about?  This study aims to explore the effect of material things such as everyday objects or places/environment on student wellbeing and mental health. Please help us know more.

Anonymity: We guarantee the survey is anonymous. It takes about 15-20 minutes to complete. We truly appreciate your time to illuminate this new and important field. 

Why, what am I contributing to? You will help develop the knowledge on the relationship between student mental health and material things and environments, support student services provision, inform policy and the outcome in the form of a book on student mental health experiences. 

If you change your mind: It’s completely up to you to decide whether you take part. Your participation is voluntary. You are free to withdraw at any time during your survey participation, but this is not possible afterwards and any responses provided will be recorded and used. It is unlikely that there will be any disadvantages to taking part. On the contrary, you can help many students and improve student well-being.

Data Usage: Your data and survey results will be stored in Qualtrics, Lancaster University protected software, and survey graphs and findings will be stored in encrypted files accessible to project PI and RA only, but again, we cannot know any names of survey participants. In accordance with University guidelines, we will keep the data securely for a minimum of ten years. 

We will use the data you have shared in the following ways: for research dissemination and publications purposes only. This will include, for example journal articles, presentations, and the project outcome in the form of an illustrated novel. We would also refer to survey results in the news media. We would always use anonymised quotes or pseudonyms when presenting the data. The illustrated novel will be publicly available. This study has been reviewed and approved by Lancaster University Research Ethics Committee. 

If you have any queries contact Natasa at the e-mail below, or if you are unhappy with anything that happens concerning your participation in the study, please contact Deborah Knight at this e-mail address: d.knight@lancaster.ac.uk

If you feel distressed at any point while completing the survey, please stop the survey or get back to it later. You might be able to get some advice from Student Minds web site: https://www.studentminds.org.uk/. 

This project is supported by SMaRTeN, the UK's biggest student mental health network, funded by UKResearch & InnovationI/Economic and Social Research Council. 
​
The project team, Dr Natasa Lackovic, Lecturer, Lancaster University e-mail: n.lackovic@lancaster.ac.uk   Monika Conti, Student, Lancaster University
THE HYPE PROJECT: IMPROVING THE HEALTH OF YOUNG PEOPLE
🕘 30 MINUTES ​​​
Ethically approved by the King's College London Research Ethics Committee (REC Reference Number: HR-17/18-7535); funded by the Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre, National Institute for Health Research

The HYPE (Improving the Health of Young PeoplE) Project is an online recruitment, risk assessment, and resource platform for young people (aged 16 and over). The Project is aimed at improving the understanding of problems affecting young people’s health, increasing young peoples’ involvement in research and improving access to online and community, social and health-related resources. We hope to use the project to empower individuals within their neighbourhoods and communities by providing an environment to voice their opinions and contribute to a discussion on health inequalities - and work towards reducing these inequalities. 

To take part, we need young people to complete a 30 minute (approximately) online survey.

The HYPE Project online platform also offers signposting to relevant charities and organisations, self-help materials and information about community activities and events. Access to all the resources is free regardless of whether the young person takes part in the research survey. 

For more information about the project or to sign up, please go to https://hypekcl.com or you can contact us via email at hype@kcl.ac.uk.

You can follow us on Twitter: @hype_project and on Instagram: @hype_projectkcl
​AN EXPLORATION OF ATTITUDE AND KNOWLEDGE TOWARDS DIETARY HABITS IN UNIVERSITY STUDENTS DURING DEPRESSION AND LOW MOOD
🕘 15 MINUTES
Approved by the Cardiff Metropolitan University Ethics Committee

This project was stimulated by previous research investigating the influence on diet and its impact on mental health. We want to find out students’ knowledge and attitudes towards dietary habits and how it influences their mood. We want to find this out in order to help develop future research on this topic and help provide alternatives for universities to consider when supporting students with the pastoral care of students through alternative support including nutrition. 

The study is being organised by Francesca Vuolo a final year BSc (Hons) Nutrition student at Cardiff Metropolitan University  If you want to find out more about the project, or if you need more information to help you make a decision about joining in, please contact the study supervisor Vicky Krawec on 02920 416883 or email VJKrawec@cardiffmet.ac.uk​

Take part here.
​EDUCATION FOR MENTAL WELLBEING - UNDERSTANDING TEACHING ACADEMICS' PERCEPTIONS OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CURRICULUM CONTENT AND WELLBEING
📅​​​ 15TH NOVEMBER 2020
Ethics Approval Ref: ETH1920-3186

​INFORMATION FOR PARTICIPANTS
What is this research project?
We are investigating how students respond to curriculum content, rather than the way it is taught. In this survey, we are interested in the perspectives of academic staff on curriculum content that may appear to cause emotional and psychological reactions such as loss of motivation, disengagement, frustration, or heightened levels of unhelpful stress. To participate please click here. 

Do I have to take part?
There is absolutely no obligation to take part in this research project. 

Why am I being asked to take part?
We are asking academics who teach undergraduate students in the UK to complete this survey.

If I agree to take part, what will I have to do?
You will be asked to complete a short qualitative survey, comprised of three question sets. The questions are mainly open text, you can provide as much or as little detail as you wish.
You will not be asked to share any personally identifiable data in this survey.

How will the answers I provide be used?
Your answers will be combined with the answers given by other participants and analysed for key lessons that we can learn.
The data will be aggregated and statistically analysed data will be used for the production of journal articles and conference presentations.
This survey is also part of a larger piece of work on this topic. We plan to use the findings from the whole project to produce guidance for academics to help develop curriculum and pedagogy that can improve learning and wellbeing.
Please note that if you consent to participate in this research you are agreeing to the information being used for these purposes.
​
How will the information be stored?
Your answers will be stored on a secure server that is protected by a password and only accessible by the research team. You will not be asked to share any personally identifiable data in this survey.
The answers you provide will be treated confidentially and you will not be identifiable in any reports or papers that are subsequently produced from the data we receive. 

Can I choose to withdraw my answers at a later date?
You will be asked to add a personal identifier when you complete the survey. Using this identifier, you can choose to withdraw your data, providing you inform us within 2 weeks of the survey closing (4th October 2020).

GDPR Statement
Your participation in this study is entirely voluntary, and you are not required to answer any questions that you do not feel comfortable answering. Your consent is the legal basis with which we are collecting your data and, while this allows us to use your data, it also means we have obligations towards you to:
  • not seek more information from you than what is essential and necessary for the study;
  • make sure that you are not identified by the data by anonymising;
  • use your anonymised data only for the purposes stated;
  • store data safely in password-protected databases to which only expert researchers have access;
  • not keep your information for longer than is necessary;
  • safely destroy your data by shredding or permanently deleting them.

The University of Derby will act as the Data Controller for this study. This means that the University is responsible for looking after your information and using it properly. Researchers on the project with access to the data are highly qualified and experienced and have been very careful to ensure the security of your data. The study was approved for its ethical standards by the AHE research ethics committees at the University of Derby. However, in the unlikely event that you feel you need to make a complaint regarding the use of your information, you can contact the Data Protection Officer at the University of Derby: Helen Rishworth +44 (0)1332 591954 or the Information Commissioners Office 0303 123 1113. Further information about the project can be obtained from Gareth Hughes (see below), at the University of Derby, Kedleston Road, Derby DE22 1GB, UK.

Who can I speak to if I have questions or concerns about this research?
If you have any questions about this research, you can contact:
Research Lead – Gareth Hughes g.hughes@derby.ac.uk or write to him at Student Wellbeing, University of Derby, Kedleston Road, Derby DE22 1GB
Student Services Manager – Jo Jones j.jones@derby.ac.uk or Tel: 01332 591314
NEW SURVEY FOR HEALTHCARE PRACTITIONERS: TALKING WITH YOUNG PEOPLE ABOUT THEIR MENTAL HEALTH AND DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY USE ​
​​🕘 15 MINUTES ​​​​
Heavy digital technology use amongst young people has been linked to poor mental health and may pose risks for those who self-harm, are suicidal or have eating disorders. But digital technology can also be helpful to young people’s mental health. For example, it can be used to assess risk, deliver therapeutic interventions and to help clinicians build relationships with service users.
​
It has also been recommended by the Royal College of Psychiatrists that more mental health practitioners talk to younger patients about their digital technology use.

Our research explores questions around how young people’s digital technology use could be harnessed during mental health consultations with young people, to improve the delivery of care and to manage risk. As a first step, we want to scope current practice and gather practitioners’ views about what might be beneficial, feasible and acceptable.
​
We are keen to hear from anyone working in statutory and non-statutory services to complete our 20-minute questionnaire.
 
The survey can be found here
 
All responses eligible to be entered into a £50 prize draw!
 
The study is led by Dr Lucy Biddle and the University of Bristol and is joint funded by the Medical Research Council (MRC), Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), and the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) as part of their ‘Adolescence, Mental Health and the Developing Mind’ programme of research.

Research Ethics Number: FREC 103102

Contact details
Dr Lucy Biddle: Lucy.Biddle@bristol.ac.uk or Dr Jane Derges: jane.derges@bristol.ac.uk

Welcome to the SMaRteN Network! We hope to hear from you soon.

Keep us up to date with your research! We love to showcase members' work and initiatives in student mental health research. 

Email

smarten@kcl.ac.uk