FOR
YOUNG PEOPLE
Exploring Mental Health Support Teams in schools
In this project, we will explore how helpful the new mental health support teams at schools are.
What will you do in the study?
Surveys
What will I be asked to do?
If you are going to receive mental health support at school, we will ask you to complete surveys about how you have been feeling lately and what you find easy or difficult.
What will I be asked about in the surveys?
You will be asked questions about your mental health and wellbeing at the moment.
You will be asked how you have been feeling lately, if there is anything you find difficult, or anything that makes you feel unhappy or anxious. Topics include emotions, worries, and getting along with people.
You will also be asked to give some basic information about yourself, such as your age and gender.
If you don’t feel comfortable answering a question, you don’t need to answer it.
Your answers will only be seen by the researchers and the wellbeing team at your school.
When will I do the surveys?
If you decide to take part, you will be asked to complete the surveys at three different times:
- Before you start getting mental health support
- At the end of your mental health support
- Nine months after the first set of surveys is sent.
Interview/ Group discussion
What will I be asked to do?
If you have finished receiving mental health support at school, we will invite you to talk with the researchers about your experience.
You do not have to take part in this interview or group discussion if you don’t want to. This will not affect whether you receive mental health support.
What will happen during the interview or group discussion?
During the interview or group discussion, we will ask you about your experience of receiving mental health support at school, and what you found helpful or unhelpful.
You can choose whether you would like to speak to the researcher on your own or in a small group with other children or young people.
You can also choose to have your parent or carer with you during the interview or group discussion, if you would feel more comfortable.
Your answers will be made anonymous. This means that we will use a secret code to replace any information that may let someone guess who you are.
Questions and answers
Why would you like me to take part?
As a young person, your views are really important to help us understand what works best to support young people from all backgrounds.
Taking part in this project is a positive step toward helping improve the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people in England.
Do I have to take part?
No, you do not have to take part in this study if you don’t want to.
Not taking part will not affect whether you get mental health support.
If you are under 16, both you and your parent or caregiver will need to agree before you can take part in the study.
What happens if I change my mind about taking part? / Am I allowed to stop taking part?
Yes, you can stop taking part in the study at any time, and you don’t need to give a reason.
You will still be able to receive mental health support at school, but will not be sent any more surveys or invited to talk about your experience.
What's the point of this study? / How will it help me?
By taking part in this study, you will help researchers learn more about how helpful the mental health support at your school is and why.
This will help improve mental health support in schools and support having mental health teams in schools across the country. Taking part could help make a difference to the wellbeing of other children and young people.
Who should I speak to if I have more questions?
You can write your question in the box on our Contact Us page, and we will reply by email using the address you provide.
You can also ask the mental health support staff at your school, who will tell you more about the study and help answer your questions.
