Opportunities to get involved in research projects
Our approach to research and projects is to ensure that we are listening to the voices of the young people that the particular support is designed for - which is outlined in the Anna Freud participation strategy.
We have a number of research projects at the moment that we are keen to ask young people, as well as professionals, education staff, and parents and carers, to be involved with. Each of these are listed below.
Please do get in touch with the respective research projects contacts or complete any short forms provided.
Thank you for taking part, or sharing with those that might.
1. CAMHS professionals, referrers, young people and parents and carers: shaping the referral processYou are invited to join an imminent research project called Enhancing CAMHS Referrals Project 2 (EN-CAMHS 2), funded by the NIHR to develop a digital tool for CAMHS referrals.
This project aims to improve how children and young people get mental health support. We want to learn from your experiences with CAMHS referrals, both good and bad. Your feedback will help us create a digital tool to make the referral process easier and faster.
We are hosting focus groups with key stakeholders to understand how we can develop and improve the digital tool we have created.
The focus groups are being held on:
• Thursday 23rd January 10.00-11.00
• Wednesday 29th January 12.00-13.00
If you are a CAMHS Professional, referrer to CAMHS, young person or parent or carer with this experience, please contact the research team GM.Digital@gmmh.nhs.uk for further information or if you would like to get involved.
Further information is also available here.
2. Young people and education staff: How can the school environment support students with eating disorders?Anna Freud are keen to hear from young people in particular, but also education staff, to help shape research to explore how the school environment can support young people experiencing eating disorders.
There is a £25 voucher for each group attended.
We’re asking young people and education staff to join our advisory groups on the dates below, and help design a survey for students. The survey will explore the drivers of eating disorders in the school environment to help us better understand how to support students experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, eating disorders.
- 28 January at 16:30 to 18:00 - for young people
- 3 February at 15:30 to 17:00 - for education staff
- 25 February at 16:30 to 18:00 - for young people
You can join whether you have experience of an eating disorder or not, as long as you feel comfortable doing so. We are particularly interested in hearing from anyone from underrepresented groups.
This is for those that are currently at secondary school or have been at secondary school within the last three years.
Young person sign up: https://forms.office.com/e/WaUaETBEHA
Education staff sign up: https://forms.office.com/e/AGw8BsMQfE
Contact EDschool@annafreud.org with any questions.
3. Primary School Teachers: Understanding the experiences of primary school teachers in managing children’s mental health needs and behaviours in their classes
Do you have experience managing pupil’s metal health needs?
Anna Freud are keen to hear from Primary teachers to join their research project to help them better understand the experiences of primary school teachers in managing children’s mental health needs and behaviours in their classes.
The study will involve an online interview to talk about your experience of managing mental health needs in the primary classroom.
For more information and to take part, please contact: Hanna Logue Hannah.logue@annafreud.org
4. Young people: Understanding the experience of social camouflaging in neurodivergent secondary school students
Anna Freud are conducting a study with young people in years 7 to 9, with either a diagnosis of autism or ADHD, but not both.
The study is focusing on:
1) the experiences of social camouflaging in children and young people with ADHD, and
2) the experiences of social camouflaging in those with ADHD compared to young people with autism.
Social camouflaging refers to the social and/or emotional behaviours adopted to compensate for their neurodevelopmental differences in a neurotypical environment and to “fit in”. This study involves short interviews and has been approved by the UCL ethics board.
If schools or young people you know would be interested in supporting this or would like further information please contact Dr Saul Hillman: saul.hillman@annafreud.org
5. Young people or schools: Understanding attachment representations displayed by young children aged 5 - 9 with a diagnosis of ADHD.
Anna Freud are conducting a study focusing on understanding the attachment patterns displayed by young children aged 5 - 9 with a diagnosis of ADHD.
This will be using the Story Stem Assessment Profile (SSAP) which uses a play-based approach, involving short stories that the children would be asked to complete using an assortment of toys. This study has been approved by the UCL ethics board.
If schools or young people you know would be interested in supporting this or would like further information, please contact Dr Dominika Dykiert: dominika.dykiert@annafreud.org.