GLAD

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
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 iCare PLUS study

PNM/14/15-130, approved by KCL Psychiatry, Nursing and Midwifery Research Ethics subcommittee. Students at any university in the UK can participate.

The Department of Psychological Medicine are seeking university students to participate in PLUS, an online study of personality, lifestyle and mental health. The study will look at whether an online programme designed to help students can improve wellbeing.
Taking part involves filling out online questionnaires and completing a series of online sessions. You’ll receive feedback on your questionnaire responses, allowing you to learn more about yourself and your strengths and weaknesses.

Each time you complete a set on online questionnaires, you’ll be entered into a raffle for an iPad.

Sign up here: https://www.icare-online.eu/en/Plus.html or contact madeleine.irish@kcl.ac.uk for more details.

Perfectionism, worry and wellbeing in UK undergraduates: Establishing incidence and effective interventions

This survey was approved by the Sheffield Hallam University's ethics committee, ethics code ER6315121 in April 2018. The survey is open to any undergraduate student studying at a UK University / Higher Education Institution. 

Lucy's PhD research is investigating prevalence of mental wellbeing, worry, anxiety and perfectionism amongst UK undergraduate students. Part of the research includes a survey to create new data about mental wellbeing, perfectionism and various other factors (such as social media use, academic attainment, resilience and anxiety) in UK undergraduate students. 

As a counsellor herself, Lucy's research is informed by over 10 years' experience supporting students at Universities; She is well aware of the increasing demand on support services and the impact this has on students' ability to thrive at University, as well as staff well-being. 

The overall aim of her research is to develop effective interventions (informed by the survey data) using CBT and Positive Psychology, that will not only target mental health issues such as anxiety, but also build resilience and confidence in students, helping them to better achieve their potential.

For more information: https://shusls.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6tYT1s0VNzJAU2V

​Ms Lucy Nicola Cooper, Telephone: (0114) 2255912, Email: L.N.Cooper@shu.ac.uk

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
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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

Understanding what matters to students: Dimensions of Quality of Life

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

PGR Mental Wellbeing

LRS-17/18-6731 , approved by the KCL PNM Research Ethics Panel.

Are you currently a postgraduate research student? We'd like to learn more about your experience as a student - has this been positive so far? What effect has studying had on your wellbeing? 

In collaboration with Student Minds and Derby University, we are working to understand more about the experience and challenges of PGR students. We will use these insights to develop new resources to support post graduate research students. 

To share your experience and support this project, we invite you to complete two online survey's four months apart. The survey contains a number of questionnaire measures assessing your mental health and mental wellbeing. You will also be asked about your experience as a post graduate research student. 

For more information and to take part: https://tinyurl.com/PGRsurvey

LGBQ+ adults' experiences of NHS primary care psychological or counselling services

HR-17/18-5303​, Approved by the KCL PNM Research Ethics Panel

Participants Wanted:
LGBQ+ adults* (16+) with experience of NHS primary care services for mental health difficulties (e.g. depression/anxiety/stress).

*We use the term LGBQ+ for its recognisability, however we acknowledge that there are other minority sexual identities not explicitly represented by that term (e.g. pansexual, asexual, mostly heterosexual) and we welcome your participation in this survey. This survey is also suitable for people who identify as heterosexual but who experience same-sex attractions.​

Study Summary:
This is an exploratory survey on LGBQ+ adults' experiences of being referred to or receiving NHS primary care for mild to moderate psychological difficulties (e.g. depression, anxiety, stress or other problems). The help you were offered might have been a computerised programme, support to use a self-help book, a group or one-to-one counselling / therapy. Often this is provided by a counsellor / therapist at a GP surgery or at an “IAPT” service. IAPT stands for “Improving Access to Psychological Therapies”. We also need to hear from people who were referred but did not receive any treatment, or who decided not to continue with treatment.
This survey is not about experiences of treatment received for more serious mental health problems such as bipolar disorder, psychosis or anorexia nervosa. These problems are usually treated in ‘secondary’ care services such as community mental health teams.
It has taken on average 10 minutes for previous participants to complete this study.

Survey Link: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/RRS3DS6

Further information:
Contact Dr Rimes (katharine.rimes@kcl.ac.uk) or myself, Amelia Foy (aajf20@bath.ac.uk)​

Eating Disorder Service Provision for University Students

HR-17/18-6660, approved by the KCL Psychiatry, Nursing and Midwifery Research Ethics subcommittee. Students at any university can participate.
This study is recruiting students with experience of eating difficulties to take part in an audit evaluation to understand more about service provision. We are working with Student Minds to build an understanding of the student experience of eating disorder services. We are looking to speak to university students and recent graduates with experience of eating difficulties. We would like to hear from you about what has worked for you, what has been difficult and what you’d like services to look like in the future.
You can take part in this study via a focus group, 1-2-1 interview or online survey. If you would be interested in participating, 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.

If you would like to take part via our online survey, please visit https://tinyurl.com/EatingDisordersAudit