ORIGIN
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Optimising cultural expeRIences for mental health in underrepresented younG people onlINe (ORIGIN)
IRAS ID
325878
Contact name
Rebecca Syed Sheriff
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Oxford
Duration of Study in the UK
4 years, 3 months, 1 days
Research summary
Three quarters of mental health problems start before the age of 25. However, young people are the least likely to receive mental health care. Some young people (such as those from ethnic minorities) are even less likely to receive mental health care than others. Anxiety and depression are the most common mental health problems and have long term impacts if they remain untreated. Online interventions can increase the accessibility of mental health support for young people. In our previous research, we developed an online arts and culture intervention called Ways of Being with young peopleIn our research, Ways of Being reduced negative feelings when compared with a traditional museum website. This was particularly the case in young people from ethnic minorities.
Young people asked us to further improve and test this approach for more diverse young people. They wanted us to include young people who identify as autistic, LGBTQ+, ethnic minorities and those who live in deprived areas. We will focus our research on people who live in deprived areas (Cornwall, Liverpool, Sheffield, Oxfordshire and Blackpool) but also include diverse young people from across England. With young people as research partners, we will (i) listen to diverse young people about their mental health needs, (ii) further develop Ways of Being, and (iii) test the effectiveness of WoB for anxiety and depression in diverse young people on NHS waiting lists and those who have not sought mental health care.
We will ask young people about preferred ways of sharing the findings. We will share knowledge with young people, policy makers, health professionals, carers, teachers, social workers, and people who work in arts and culture. We will produce research papers and blogs, newsletters, webinars, tweets, videos and podcasts.
REC name
West Midlands - South Birmingham Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
24/WM/0016
Date of REC Opinion
19 Jan 2024
REC opinion
Unfavourable Opinion