MindTech (NIHR HealthTech Research Centre Mental Health)

Flyer. Importance of Public Involvement Research Webinar Series. Webinar 4. This webinar will share findings from two evaluations of young people’s advisory groups (YPAGs), both co-produced with young group members. It will highlight lessons for meaningful and inclusive Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) with children and young people (CYP) and explore practical implications for PPIE professionals, researchers and CYP involved in research. Chaired by Dr Stan Papoulias, PPIE research theme lead at NIHR ARC South London. Facilitated by Dr Elspeth Mathie, Inclusive Involvement in Research theme lead at NIHR ARC East of England. Speakers: Dr Louca-Mai Brady, Reader in Youth Involvement and Health; Dr Helen Abnett and Lauren Denyer, Research Fellows, UH; and young members of the Herts YPAG. Who should attend? Anyone who is interested or involved in CYP’s involvement in research, including young people. Tuesday 17th February, 12:00-13:30. Register now!

📣 @nihrarcs.bsky.social #PPI webinar: Evaluating #PublicInvolvement with children & young people 🌟17/2/26
Presenters incl me, @helenabnett.bsky.social & @hertsypag.bsky.social + hosted by @skourkos.bsky.social & @elspethma.bsky.social

Info & booking: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/involving-...

A person (Lee Waters MS) stands at a podium with two microphones

A debate in the Welsh Senedd highlighted the lack of access to specialist services for young people with tics and Tourette Syndrome in Wales. Lee Waters MS referenced research led by IMH researchers @nottshealthcare.bsky.social and @uniofnottingham.bsky.social

www.youtube.com/watch?v=pik7...

Participants needed! Do you want to help in the understanding of autism and adhd? What are we studying? Hyperactivity, attention, and arousal regulation in ADHD and Autism. How is the nervous system different and how does this cause ADHD/Autism traits? Who are we looking for? Anyone age 18+ with a formal Autism diagnosis or in the process of getting one. Or anyone age 18+ that identifies as Neurotypical. What will you be asked to do? Come to the Institute of Mental Health at the University of Nottingham at a time that suits you (Monday-Friday). Complete 4 short questionnaires about yourself and your symptoms. We will measure your autonomic activity (heart rate, breathing rate and pupil dilation) while you perform a computerised test of attention. This will take around 90 minutes. You will receive a voucher at the end of the study. Interested? Email mbyep9@nottingham.ac.uk

Are you Autistic? Do you identify as neurotypical?
Take part in research and help in the understanding of Autism and ADHD at @institutemh.org.uk @uniofnottingham.bsky.social

➡️Complete some short questionnaires
➡️Perform a computerised test of attention

📧 Please email Eve mbyep9@nottingham.ac.uk

🏆 Day 3 of #ARCEMRewind2025

⏪ Rewinding to March: Dr @CharlotteLHall2 won the first-ever @nihr.bsky.social Impact Prize for her work on digital ADHD assessment (QbTest) now used across the NHS.

🔗 Read here: tinyurl.com/3xvmzkj3
@nihrmindtech.bsky.social @healthinnovation-em.org.uk

Our placement research student Eve has written a brilliant piece for the IMH blog about her experience attending the Digital Youth X MindTech conference that happened this month in London!

'Digital Youth programme report' cover page

The Digital Youth programme report has officially launched!

The programme report collates the findings and research from the last four years of the project, showcasing a wide variety of studies, including CaTS-APP, SPARX, Purrble and DIORA

🔗 Read the report here: digitalyouth.ac.uk/dypr/

Building Digital Tool - drawing by Tom Bailey

Tom live drawing at the back of the conference room

Discussion drawings stuck up on the walls

Tom’s drawings from throughout the digital youth programme

Throughout the day, artist Tom Bailey has been live drawing discussions and conversations between the event delegates

Tom has been a key asset for the duration of the #DigitalYouth programme to visualise takeaways, thoughts and ideas in his fun comic style

Find him on Instagram, @ mrtombailey

Our final panel session is discussing the ‘MindTech Bridge’, find out more about the new initiative on the MindTech website: mindtech.org.uk/news-events/...

Bridging the valley of death’- networking, angel investors and everything next steps 👌🏽 #digitalyouth

Image of a bridge over a ravine with a waterfall

This afternoon we’ll focus on moving research to implementation. In other words “bridging the valley of death”.  

First up we have a panel discussion with Prof Chris Hollis, Prof Ed Watkins, Robert Higginson, Barnaby Perks and Dr Aaron Kandola #DigitalYouth

Read the workshop summaries on the Digital Youth website: digitalyouth.ac.uk/dyci/

Easels displaying images from successful projects

Worksheet showing principles of engagement for partnerships

A variety of interactive workshops are currently taking place at the #DigitalYouth event

Exploring topics such as: building industry partnerships, creative approaches to research and PPI, using insights from datasets and challenges and solutions to designing and implementing digital platforms

Rrready...! 😀

Nothing like a young person receiving recognition for all their hard work ✌🏽 #digitalyouth

Play Well for Life (pwfl.): Dragons of Afterlands

EFSim

Zendra Health: ADMiRE ADHD Navigator

We have a number of companies demonstrating their innovations to support children and young people's mental health in our exhibition space

Find out more information about the demonstrators on the #DigitalYouth website: digitalyouth.ac.uk/dyci/

Pictured: Play Well For Life, EFSim and Zendra Health

Fixing the Science of Technology Harms. Professor Amy Orben. Research Professor, MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit November 2025

The next talk will be by Professor Amy Orben 👋. She works for the Digital Mental Health Group at the University of Cambridge 🎓

Amy will guide is through a talk on fixing the science of technology harms, which refers to the negative effects that technology can have on people. #DigitalYouth

The Mental Elf is doing amazing coverage of the #DigitalYouth event today - keep an eye on their account throughout the day for the key takeaways from each talk and the Sprouting Minds takeover 👀

Easels showing pages from the report

Purrble (soft therapeutic robot) on a table

Room showing a screen and artworks on easels

Our exhibition is set up - showcasing the findings from the various programme projects

More information will be available in the #DigitalYouth report which is launching at the event today. The report will be available on the website from next week - links to follow

#DigitalYouth

We have an amazing exhibition of all the research projects.

Stay tuned for a video today! #DIGITALYOUTH

Lectern, 'Digital Youth with Sprouting Minds' London 2025

The Digital YouthXMindTech conference is underway

We’re welcoming over 200 delegates to the ‘Digital risk, resilience and interventions’ event, including researchers, charities, innovators, young people and policy makers all in one room together to discuss children and young people’s mental health

Graphic drawing, 'Resilience' what young people think

Last few days to grab a ticket for Digital Risk, Resilience and Interventions: co-creating change in youth mental health

Hear from leading experts in child and adolescent mental health and shape the future of digital MH initiatives through interactive discussions

🔗 mindtech.org.uk/news-events/...

Register your place to attend next weeks 'Involving stakeholders in the development of technologies for Mental Health' webinar

➡️ events.teams.microsoft.com/event/9560ef...

Young girl wearing headphones, studying and using a mobile phone

The DIORA (Dynamic Interplay of Online Risk and Resilience in Adolescence) project investigates how young peoples online activities shape their mental health and wellbeing

🔊Hear about DIORA from the team at the upcoming Digital Youth Conference

➡️About the conference mindtech.org.uk/news-events/...

🔊 Hear more about SPARX their learnings from the trial and the next steps for the project from researcher Dr Camilla Babbage and team at the upcoming Digital Youth X MindTech Conference

➡️ Find more about the conference and how you can attend on the MindTech website
mindtech.org.uk/news-events/...

SPARX logo, with the fantasy game characters

Clip from the game. Guide saying 'when we say someone 'has depression' it means that: 1. they are feeling down or not enjoying things, It's not just because of one thing that happened recently (like someone passing away). 2. These feelings are causing them problems at school, work or in not getting on with people. 3. It's been going on for weeks

SPARX is a gamified digital cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) intervention set in a fantasy world offering support to young people with low mood and depression to learn mood-management strategies.

The game is accessed via an app or online and aims to make CBT more engaging to young people

Purrble. Fluffy cute egg shaped toy-robot, alongside its boxes

Purrble is an emotion regulation intervention associated with the management of self-harm thoughts and behaviours and improvement of depressive symptoms for young LGBTQ+ people

Hear about Purrble from Dr A Jess Williams at the upcoming DigitalYouth Conference

mindtech.org.uk/news-events/...

We’re excited for the upcoming webinar we are hosting with MindTech (NIHR HealthTech Research Centre Mental Health).
‘Involving stakeholders in the development of technologies for mental health’ takes place online on 4 November and is an opportunity to learn more about working with stakeholders.

Dino - 14/10/2025 - BBC Sounds Stories to make you smile, guests to make you think and music to make you want to dance.

Our colleague Prof Maddie Groom was interviewed yesterday on BBC Radio Nottingham's midmorning show about the movie 'I Swear' and the impact of tics on people - the segment was very insightful and well worth a listen

Hear the segment on BBC sounds from 46:25: www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

Hear from leading experts in child & adolescent mental health including
Prof @sonialivingstone.bsky.social
Prof @cathycreswell.bsky.social
Dr @orbenamy.bsky.social
Dr Mathijs Lucassen
Dr @kasiaka.bsky.social

Throughout the day there will be a variety of talks seminars & networking opportunities