ATTUNE

The ATTUNE research collaboration is seeking to explore the individual, environmental, social, economic, educational and geographical factors that have an impact on the mental health of young people, both positive and negative.

In phase one of the ATTUNE collaboration aimed at informing all future work, we undertook a series of participatory co-discovery activities with young people. The results of the activities will inform further collaborative research work within the ATTUNE research consortium.

A developing area of interest is on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) which can have a profound impact on lifetime mental health of young people, including a significant reduction in life expectancy of up to 20 years. The Attune consortium is actively seeking opportunities to further explore this area.

The ATTUNE consortium is a national consortium that includes clinicians, academics and service providers from across the UK. The consortium is jointly led by Professor Eunice Ma (Falmouth University and Professor Kam Bhui (Oxford University).

The Falmouth team includes a number of lecturers and researchers with a keen interest in this area of mental health, wellbeing, co-discovery and co-design within creative practice. Other consortium members are listed in our partner section.

ATTUNE is in partnership with the following people and organisations:

• Professor Kam Bhui CBE, Oxford University
• Dr Siobhan Hugh-Jones, Associate Professor in Mental Health Psychology at the University of Leeds
• Dr Mina Fazel, Associate Professor School-based mental health interventions, Oxford University
• Professor Nicola Shaugnessy, Contemporary performance, autobiography, applied and socially engaged theatre with specialist research interests in the neurodiverse population.
• Dr Sania Shakoor Lecturer in Mental Health, Centre for Psychiatry, QMUL
• Daisy Fancourt, Associate Professor of Psychiobiology & Epidemiology/Wellcome RF, UCL
• Professor Peter Fongay, Professor Epidemiology/Wellcome RF, UCL
• Professor Craig Moran, Professor of Social Epidemiology, KCL
• Paul Mcrone, Health Economics, Greenwich University
• Georgina Hosang, Senior Lecturer in Chronic Disease Management, QMUL
• Cornwall Council
• Cornwall Partnership Foundation Trust
• Young People Cornwall
• Aardman Animations
• NSPCC

To gauge an understanding of the use and appeal of creative practices in mental health and wellbeing research, we conducted an online survey amongst University students at Falmouth. The findings of the study (n=58) suggest that the 'virtual' and 'real' environment are equally important as outlets for creative practice. Amongst the participants 83% view digital modes (i.e. applications, VR/AR gaming) as being useful for diagnosis and providing therapeutic support for mental health problems, specifically depression, anxiety and trauma. Significantly, 55% identified 'university to employment' as a stressful life transition followed by 34% who indicated 'A-level to university' was the most challenging.

The HeadStart Learning Report identified the challenges of surveying younger adolescents (10 – 16 years) during the Covid-19 lockdown period using a purely digital approach with no peer or face-to-face support. The learning from this activity, alongside the ongoing impact of Covid-19 on young people will inform future research activities and engagement methodology.

The Padlet Participation event held by Oxford University and the Leeds Care Leavers PPI focus group confirmed perceptions that: Creative arts can help young people express their voices and reduce stress levels whilst doing so, however all research in this area with young people must make sure that young people are appropriately supported. This includes support for young people as they move from digital and virtual world experiences into physical and real-world experiences. There was support for the consortium focus on rural, remote and deprived areas and for the consortium approach of capturing lived experience and user centred design. The young people engaged in the focus groups all highlighted that choice of engagement (digital and physical) is preferred.

Useful links

• www.headstartkernow.org.uk/
• www.headstartkernow.org.uk/learning/local-learning/
• www.startnowcornwall.org.uk/coronavirus/

The ATTUNE consortium through its research is seeking to influence policy makers, health care commissioners and providers, and all organisations and settings that work with and for young people.