Father engagement with NHS GGC Wee Minds Matter service
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A Mixed-Methods Study of Father Engagement with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s Wee Minds Matter Specialist Infant Mental Health Service
IRAS ID
368764
Contact name
Jaycee Pownall
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Glasgow
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 11 months, 30 days
Research summary
Fathers are underrepresented in parenting intervention research, particularly relating to infant mental health. The current study seeks to understand how NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s Wee Minds Matter (WMM) specialist infant mental health service is engaging fathers and the barriers and facilitators to father engagement. This research integrates two forms of data, quantitative and qualitative. In the first phase, this will involve quantifying father engagement using referral, enrolment and attendance data gathered and anonymised by the WMM service. In the second phase this will involve gathering data from service user fathers and professionals working in the WMM team and services that refer infants to the WMM team, to better understand perceptions of the service offering for fathers and barriers and facilitators to father engagement with the service By comparing the data from interviews and from engagement levels, the study aims to contribute to the understanding of what works, for whom and in what contexts for infant mental health.
REC name
London - Surrey Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
26/LO/0530
Date of REC Opinion
10 Jul 2026
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion