What’s the project?
The CHOOSE Study
This important research project has been looking at mental health conditions and experiences of self-harm among children and young people in the UK throughout the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. The study is led by researchers at the Universities of Manchester, Keele, Exeter and youth involvement staff at the McPin Foundation.
Using data from GP records (the Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD)), we examined how the Covid-19 pandemic has affected children and young people’s mental health. For example, the research has looked at how many young people have been diagnosed with a mental health condition before and after the pandemic, as well as how many prescriptions have been offered to treat mental health issues and referrals to mental health services. Two advisory groups were set up for this project to advise and shape the project throughout:
- A young people and parent/carer advisory group, made up of young people with lived experience of mental health issues and parent/carers of young people with mental health issues.
- A stakeholder advisory group, made up of professionals who work in children and young people’s mental health, such as doctors, nurses, teaching assistants, therapists and counsellors at the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS).
By looking at this data, the team, with the input of the advisory and stakeholder groups, would like to make recommendations for GPs, healthcare and social services and schools and colleges. The recommendations will focus on how to better identify and help children and young people with their mental health issues in the future.
You can read more about the project here.
Find out more
We are now holding a free webinar to share our findings from the CHOOSE study and you are all invited!
The webinar is on Wednesday 17th May, 10am-12pm
During this webinar, we will discuss:
- The key findings and what they mean
- How we have worked with young people, parents, carers and key professionals throughout the project and how they have shaped the project
- Other recent research into young people’s mental health and support services
You are more than welcome to simply come along and listen, or if you like, there will be a chance to get involved as we would like to hear people’s reflections on the study findings and how we can help inform and shape recommendations for practice and policy. It’s completely up to you!
The event will be chaired by Prof Carolyn Chew-Graham, a General Practitioner in Manchester and Professor of General Practice Research at Keele University and one of our Young People’s Advisory Group members, Lauren. The webinar will also feature our very own McPin Lived Experience advisory group members for the study and McPin staff!!
- To be available on Wednesday 17th May, 10am-12pm
- To register your attendance here.
You can sign up for the webinar here.
If you have any questions about the webinar or would like further information, you can contact our McPin project lead Emma ([email protected])
We look forward to seeing you there!
10am Wednesday 17th May, 2023
Please note that the McPin Foundation regularly promotes opportunities on behalf of other institutions; we are not responsible for the continuation or contents of further correspondence with any project partners where we are not listed as the project main point of contact.
