What’s the project?
Depression is a growing global mental health concern, with emerging adults (ages 18–29) representing a particularly vulnerable population due to developmental transitions and changing social demands. While depression is widely recognised as a clinical condition, its manifestation is profoundly shaped by cultural and linguistic contexts. This study investigates how emerging adults in the UK and China conceptualise and communicate their experiences of depression. This is especially important because societal attitudes towards depression differ across these cultural contexts.
Using a qualitative, cross-cultural approach, the study combines semi-structured interviews and reflective writing tasks to capture detailed personal accounts and explore how language reflects societal norms and cultural schemas in depression discourse. Guided by a cognitive–discursive approach, the study examines metaphors and schemas in participants’ communication, aiming to identify patterns in how depression is conceptualised and articulated.
This study aims to address gaps in cross-cultural mental health research by exploring how language and culture influence the experience and communication of depression, contributing to the development of linguistically and culturally sensitive approaches to mental health communication and intervention strategies.
Find out more
• Interview (45–60 minutes, one-off): online (Teams/Zoom) or in a booked room at King’s College London — participant’s choice.
• Reflective writing (15–20 minutes, one-off): complete in your own time and email to [email protected].
• Numbers: 20 interview participants and 20 writing-task participants.
• Meetings: interview 1; writing task none (email submission only).
• Lived experience: first diagnosed with depression (clinically or self-diagnosed) in or after 2020, when aged 18–29.
• Background (for like-for-like analysis): either mainly grew up in the UK, or lived in the UK for 15+ years before the first episode/diagnosis.
• Language: able to take part in English.
• Screening: complete a brief eligibility screening (short KCL form) before taking part.
• If choosing an online interview: have a stable internet connection and a private space.
• If choosing an in-person interview: willing to meet in a booked room at King’s College London (London).
• If choosing the writing task: able to email your submission to [email protected].
• Thank-you e-vouchers: £15 for the interview / £5 for the writing task, issued on completion and not contingent on responses.
• Support: clear signposting to support services (e.g., NHS and helplines); you may pause/skip/stop at any time without giving a reason.
• Accessibility & preferences: interview online or in a booked room at King’s College London (participant’s choice); reasonable adjustments available on request.
• Privacy & data: contributions pseudonymised, stored on KCL-approved systems, GDPR-compliant, and used for research only.
• Participant materials: Participant Information Sheet and Consent provided before taking part.
If you are interested in this opportunity, please email [email protected] with brief answers to the following questions:
Thank you for your interest. Participation is voluntary, and any information you provide will be kept confidential in line with KCL policy and GDPR.
Part 1: Basic information
- Full name: ____________________
(Please enter the name you used / will use on the consent form.) - Date of birth (DD/MM/YYYY): ____ / ____ / ______
- Are you currently based in the UK?
☐ Yes ☐ No - Gender:
☐ Male ☐ Female ☐ Non-binary ☐ Prefer not to say - Mother tongue / first language:
- Are you able to take part in English?
☐ Yes ☐ No (If “No”, you may not be eligible for this study. Thank you for your understanding.)
Part 2: Experience of depression
- When were you first diagnosed with depression, or when did you first recognise it yourself?
(Either self-recognised or diagnosed by a health professional)
Year: ____________ (must be 2020 or later; otherwise you may not be eligible for this study. Thank you for your understanding.)
Age at that time: ____________ (must be 18–29; otherwise you may not be eligible for this study. Thank you for your understanding.) - How was your depression first recognised? (please tick one)
☐ Self-recognised
☐ Diagnosed by a health professional (e.g. GP, counsellor, psychiatrist)
☐ Both - Your current situation: (please tick one)
☐ Currently experiencing symptoms
☐ Experienced symptoms in the past but not currently
☐ Recovering / symptoms have improved
Part 3: Background screening
- Which of the following applies to you? (please tick one)
☐ I mainly grew up in the UK.
☐ I had lived in the UK for 15+ years before my first episode/diagnosis.
☐ Neither of the above. (If selected, you may not be eligible for this study. Thank you for your understanding.)
Part 4: Participation preference
- Which would you prefer to take part in? (please tick one)
☐ Interview (approximately 45–60 minutes), online or in a booked room at King’s College London
☐ Reflective writing task (approximately 15–20 minutes)
You are welcome to send your responses in audio or video format if preferred. If you need any help completing your expression of interest, you can get in touch with Yuan Wang at [email protected].
Rolling recruitment until places are filled (20 interview + 20 writing-task places). Final cut-off: 09:00 on Monday 1 June 2026 (UK time).
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.
