Innovation in Policy, Systems and Services

A Venn diagram visualising the relationships between implementation, environment, education and conflict in effective youth mental heath care. implementation, environment, education and conflict factors in youth mental

Researching Innovation in Policy Systems and Services (IPSS) is integral to providing high quality care and support for young people who experience poor mental health. The IPSS research theme connects an international group of approximately 40 interdisciplinary scholars working across four key policy areas aligned with mental health: Implementation science and Mental Health; Environment and Mental Health; Conflict and Mental Health; Education and Mental Health. We aim to develop, research and evaluate current innovations in policy, systems and services in order to reduce both the occurrence and the impact of mental health difficulties.

Getting the service architecture and infrastructure right to support young people with their mental health is essential to improving access to and with engagement support services. High quality research into policy, health, social care, education and other systems that coalesce to provide support for young people is an important element of this. The Innovation in Policy Systems and Services (IPSS) research theme hosts a network of 40 global researchers aligned to one of our four areas of focus for the IPSS theme:  Implementation science; Environment and climate change; Education; and Conflict and Post-Conflict contexts. The IMH is ideally situated as an interdisciplinary research centre with a specific youth mental health focus, to deliver high quality internationally relevant research that informs and impacts upon public policy and practice in order to improve the care and outcomes for people experiencing problems with their mental health.

Last year (2022) we hosted the inaugural meeting for the research theme in which we set our priorities for the group. We have recruited a network of 40 global researchers aligned to one of four areas of priority and focus in relation to youth mental health. We aim to develop, promote and evaluate current innovations in policy, systems and services in order to reduce both the occurrence and the impact of mental health difficulties.

If you would like further information please get in touch with the co-theme lead Dr Sarah – Jane Fenton

Publications

Early evaluation of the Children and Young People’s Mental Health Trailblazer programme: a rapid mixed-methods study

Ellins J, Hocking L, Al-Haboubi M, Newbould J, Fenton S-J, Daniel K et al.

Southampton: NIHR Health and Social Care Delivery Research Topic Report; 2023. DOI: 10.3310/hsdr-tr-130818

Lifestyle challenges and mental health of professional tennis players: an exploratory case study

Shrom, S., Fenton, S-J. & Cumming, J., 18 Jul 2022, (E-pub ahead of print) In: International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology. 21 p. 

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Urban precarity and youth mental health: an interpretive scoping review of emerging approache

Pykett, J., Campbell, N., Fenton, S-J., Gagen, E., Lavis, A., Newbigging, K., Parkin, V. & Williams, J., 21 Dec 2022, In: Social Science and Medicine. 115619. 

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Self-harm and suicide prevention

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