MHCYP 2016 v1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The Survey of the Mental Health of Children and Young People 2016
IRAS ID
192649
Contact name
Sally Bridges
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Health and Social Care Information Centre
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 11 months, 28 days
Research summary
This study is the latest in a series of national social surveys focusing on the mental health of children and young people in the general population of England and Scotland. It has been commissioned by the Health and Social Care Information Centre with funding from the Department of Health and aims to estimate the prevalence of mental health conditions in children and young people aged 2-19.
The survey involves collecting information about health and wellbeing from:
- parents/carers of children and young people aged 2-19,
- young people aged 11 and over,
- teachers of children and young people aged 5-16.All selected participants will be sent an advance letter about the research. Following this letter, an interviewer will call at the address and leave a leaflet explaining more about the research. For those who consent to take part, information will be collected from parents/carers and young people in their own homes using a computer assisted personal interview (CAPI) administered by a trained social survey interviewer. Information will be collected from teachers using an online questionnaire.
The interview with parents/carers and young people focuses on many different aspects of health - both physical and mental - as well as subjective wellbeing, use of services, risk and protective factors (such as neighbourhood context and social support, among many other things) and standard sociodemographic factors (e.g. age, sex and employment status of parents). Interviewers are trained social survey interviewers, many of whom will have previously worked on surveys involving children and/or covering sensitive issues.
The survey findings will support the planning, commissioning and improvement of services across mental health, care and education from 2018 onwards. The up to date information will allow resources to be better targeted and more responsive to the mental health and well-being needs of children and young people.
REC name
London - West London & GTAC Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/LO/0155
Date of REC Opinion
12 Apr 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion