- Taking a whole-school approach to mental health in Wales
A growing number of nations are advocating for a whole school approach to emotional and mental wellbeing. In 2021, Welsh Government published a framework outlining … Read more - Developing a Namibian School Health Research Network (SHRN)
In June 2023, Dr Rhiannon Evans and Dr Honor Young visited Namibia to work on the pilot of the Namibian School Health Research Network (SHRN). … Read more - Alice’s internship: ‘Having these opportunities exposed me to different industries and career paths’
Alice McHale researched literature regarding Child-to-Parent-Violence during her CUROP internship at DECIPHer. I study Human and Social Science (BSc) at Cardiff University and undertook this … Read more - Rowan’s internship: ‘I’m now certain a career in social science research is something I’d love to pursue’
Rowan Kitchener is a third-year student studying Biomedical Science at Cardiff University. Here she discusses her CUROP placement at DECIPHer researching public perceptions on food … Read more - Emma’s internship: ‘This will shape what I pursue in the future’
Criminology and Sociology student Emma Dixon recently completed a summer internship at DECIPHer. She reflects on her experiences and what she has learned. I will … Read more - From task and finish to table tennis – the DECIPHer short course
Dr Samantha Garay attended the DECIPHer short course ‘Methodological Innovation in Public Health Intervention Science: Development, Evaluation, Adaption and Implementation’. Here are her thoughts In … Read more - Evidence for change: Reporting to the Senedd on gender-based violence
In March 2023, the Equality and Social Justice Committee launched an inquiry into the public health approach to preventing gender-based violence. In June 2023 it held … Read more - Meet the researchers: Brianna and Katy-May
Postgraduates Brianna Bowen and Katy-May Price reflect on their experiences as researchers on a DECIPHer school-focused project. In September 2022, Brianna, a doctorate student of … Read more - 3MT® and me
DECIPHer PhD student Bethan Pell reflects on her experience of taking part in the Three Minute Thesis ( 3MT®) competition, where she presented on her … Read more - Meet the researcher: Abbey Rowe on neurodiversity in secondary schools
To mark the beginning of Neurodiversity Celebration Week, Abbey Rowe discusses her PhD on how secondary schools affect the mental health and wellbeing of neurodivergent … Read more - A curriculum for children’s health and wellbeing
Wales welcomed its new Curriculum for Wales last autumn, including changes to the way learners and schools are assessed, and changes to the way educators are trained … Read more - Building mentally healthy schools – what are the active ingredients?
Dr Jeremy Segrott, Dr Hayley Reed and Dr Nick Page discuss their project on strengthening pupil and school relationships High rates of anxiety and depression … Read more - How does online communication affect young people’s mental well-being?
Rebecca Anthony, Research Associate at DECIPHer and Wolfson Center for Young People’s Mental Health, discusses her new paper Young People’s Online Communication and its Association … Read more - Reflections on a research visit
DECIPHer recently hosted a five-week visit from researcher Devy Elling from Stockholm University. Here, she looks back on on her time with us and how … Read more - ‘The knowledge, skills and connections are so valuable to supporting your future career’
What’s it like completing a summer research internship at DECIPHer? Five Cardiff University students discuss their experiences. - From music to methodology
Henry Amery looks back on his 12-week placement at DECIPHer, which he undertook as part of his MSc Psychology Conversion. My time at Cardiff University … Read more - Safia: My take on the DECIPHer short course
Research Assistant Safia Ouerghi feeds back on ‘Development, Evaluation, Adaptation and Implementation’, which took place in June 2022. After joining DECIPHer in September 2021, I … Read more - What’s the right amount of food for preschool children?
Alice Porter discusses her PhD research on age-appropriate portion sizes for preschoolers and reflects on her placement with DECIPHer Portion size is the amount of … Read more - Meet the Namibian Fellows: Kavena Shalyefu
Rakel Kavena Shalyefu (known as Kavena) is an Associate Professor in Lifelong Learning and Community Development at the University of Namibia, and one of the … Read more - Meet the Namibian Fellows: Dr Rachel J Freeman
The six Namibian Fellows are now ten weeks into their visit to DECIPHer. In blog four, Dr Rachel J Freeman explains how their experience reflects … Read more - Meet the Namibian Fellows: Ndinelago (Dina) Shilongo
The Phoenix Project has arranged for DECIPHer to host six mid-career Namibian professionals to collaborae with out researchers. Here, in blog three, we ask Ndinelago … Read more - Meet the Namibian Fellows: Cynthy K. Haihambo
DECIPHer is currently hosing six mid-career Namibian professionals, in a scheme arranged by the Phoenix Project. The Fellows are spending three months collaborating with our … Read more - The 25-year-old championing young people’s voices in research
Senior Public Involvement Officer Sophie Jones was recently interview by Emma Yhnell for Health and Care Research Wales for their latest Where Would We Be … Read more - Meet the Namibian Fellows: Ayesha Wentworth
DECIPHer is currently hosting six mid-career Namibian professionals, in a scheme arranged by the Phoenix Project. The Fellows are spending three months collaborating with our … Read more - Assessing the whole school approach to mental health and wellbeing
New statutory guidance was introduced by Welsh Government in 2021, requiring all schools in Wales to embed a whole school approach (WSA) towards mental health and emotional wellbeing … Read more - Siblings raising siblings: the ‘invisible’ kinship families
Lorna Stabler discusses her research into the experiences of an under-recognised group: sibling carers. What is the issue? Most people know that families are not … Read more - ALPHA – skills development and career inspiration
DECIPHer (Centre for Development, Evaluation, Complexity and Implementation in Public Health Improvement) has run ALPHA (Advice Leading to Public Health Advancement), a research advisory group made up of … Read more - Join us in society’s new ‘Superlab’
As DECIPHer prepares to move into its new home sbarc | spark, Sally O’Connor explains how innovation and ideas will thrive in this creative hub. A … Read more - How can secondary school stakeholders inform health programmes?
Research Associate Hayley Reed explores co-production in a school setting What is the issue? Attempts to change young people’s health through schools has relied on running standard programmes with … Read more - A catch-up with DECIPHer’s new Senior Public Involvement Officer
Sophie Jones, 24, is the new Senior Public Involvement Officer at DECIPHer and is a long -running member of the ALPHA team. Here she tells … Read more - Meet the researcher: Dr Rebecca Anthony
A researcher has joined the Wolfson Centre for Young People’s Mental Health, working in partnership with the DECIPHer Centre at Cardiff University. Dr Rebecca Anthony … Read more - Remembering Heather Trickey
It is with great sadness that we note the death of our valued colleague Dr. Heather Trickey. Heather joined DECIPHer in January 2012, completed her … Read more - Wales’ new curriculum: Findings so far
In 2022, Wales welcomes a new school curriculum prioritising young people’s health and wellbeing. Dr Sara Long’s Welsh Government fellowship is informing and evaluating this major … Read more - How does DECIPHer build its research capacity?
PhD student Amy Simpson examines the methods we use to support and grow education research As part of a six-month internship at the Welsh Government, I conducted an evidence review titled Developing … Read more - My DECIPHer work taster
Molly Burdon, a second-year Psychology student at Cardiff University, looks back on her seven-month placement at DECIPHer I was delighted to be offered the opportunity to … Read more - On the right path
March 11 2021 saw the launch of the independent evaluation report of the Pathfinder project, conducted by Cardiff University. The project was the first systems-change … Read more - What support do children need this summer?
On 18th March 2021, Dr Kelly Morgan attended the International Public Policy Observatory on COVID-19 roundtable discussing summer support programmes for schoolchildren. She reports back … Read more - International Women’s Day: Interview with Dr Sara Jones
To mark International Women’s Day 2021, our colleagues at the Social Science Research Park (SPARK) interviewed staff from a range of different roles and research … Read more - When research is child’s play
Bethan Pell discusses the practical activities helping children and young people express themselves during sensitive research In December 2020, I was awarded an Early Career Researcher Bursary from … Read more - Taking our short course online: How did it go?
On 28th January 2021, Peter Gee, Jeremy Segrott, ALPHA members and Health and Care Research Wales ran the first online session of the short course ‘How to Involve Young People … Read more - Working with youth mental health services during COVID-19
Rachel Parker, a DECIPHer-based PhD researcher and mental health consultant, reflects on working with community-based projects during the pandemic. My research area is adolescent self-harm … Read more - On course for Denmark
In October 2020, Dr Rachel Brown and Dr Rhiannon Evans were invited to teach an adapted online version of their long-running methods course on Process Evaluation to colleagues from Aalborg University, … Read more - Hosting a DVA research workshop online – what did we learn?
Dr Rhiannon Evans, Dr Kelly Buckley and Bethan Pell presented a virtual workshop at this year’s Health and Care Research Wales conference discussing the future of research into domestic violence and abuse. … Read more - The magic number: My take on the three-minute thesis
At the start of 2020, Cardiff University challenged postgraduate researchers from across the University to present their research in just three minutes and with only … Read more - Locked down, speaking up!
ALPHA members presented at Cardiff University’s event, which connects Grangetown locals with mentors, experts and opportunities. DECIPHer’s Engagement Officer Peter Gee reported back Before lockdown, ALPHA had grand … Read more - School transition, socioeconomic inequalities in wellbeing and the COVID-19 pandemic
In this blog, originally published in BERA, Dr Graham Moore discusses school closures, deepened inequality and disrupted transition in the light of Covid-19. Children’s education and … Read more - Improving mental health and well-being: how can we best support children and young people in care?
Dr Sarah MacDonald and Dr Rhiannon Evans provide an overview of new DECIPHer-led research, the CHIMES study (Care-experienced children and young people’s Interventions to improve … Read more - New study: How does local authority care affect the health and education of vulnerable children?
Doctor Sara Long provides an overview of a complex, yet exciting study funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), which commenced in October 2019. Previous … Read more - The need for equity-focused public health action and research, in the aftermath of COVID-19
Doctor Graham Moore looks at the social impacts of lockdown and the importance of post-pandemic strategies for society’s most vulnerable members The start of 2020 … Read more - How can research shape the future of young carer services?
Today (30th January) is Young Carers Awareness Day, a day of campaigning for improved support for young carers. Ed Janes is a DECIPHer-based researcher whose PhD focuses … Read more - The mother of all fellowships
In 2022, Wales will welcome a new school curriculum prioritising young people’s health and wellbeing. Dr Sara Long’s new Welsh Government fellowship will inform and evaluate … Read more - DECIPHer goes to Cape Town
Emily Lowthian is a PhD Student and Research Associate at DECIPHer. Her research interests are parental behaviours and child wellbeing outcomes. She attended and facilitated … Read more - ‘An incredibly valuable experience’ – Gemma on her CUROP placement
Gemma Sawyer is a final year psychology student. She spent summer 2019 as a CUROP student at DECIPHer. For the past eight weeks, I have been working … Read more - A CHARMING opportunity – Elpida’s CUROP placement
Elpida Petrovits is a second-year Human and Social Sciences student. During summer 2019 she took a CUROP placement at DECIPHer. My plan during the first year of … Read more - Parents’ drug, alcohol and tobacco use negatively effects all areas of child well-being – new study
This article, by Emily Lowthian and Simon C Moore, is republished from The Conversation We all know that the use of tobacco, alcohol and drugs harms our own health. … Read more - Eve: My placement so far
Eve Benfield is going into her fourth year of medicine and is currently completing a placement at DECIPHer via Cardiff University’s CUROP scheme Having completed a project during the third … Read more - Reflections on a DECIPHer short course
Nick Page is a Research Associate at DECIPHer. He attended the short course ‘Developing and Evaluating Complex Public Health Interventions’ in June 2019 and reported … Read more - DECIPHer, diversity and daffs: My research visit
Fatma Avşar works as a full-time research assistant and is studying for her PhD in the School of Health Science Department of Public Health Nursing at … Read more - WISE event – what did we learn?
On the 20th of May 2019, DECIPHer hosted the Supporting Teacher Mental Health & Wellbeing Schools Event. PhD student and WISE assistant Danielle Couturiaux shares her thoughts on the … Read more - The sociology of suicide – progressing the research agenda
Dr Rhiannon Evans has been awarded funding from the British Academy for the development of a Sociology of Suicide Research Network. Here she discusses her plans for this … Read more - Q&A – Denmark to DECIPHer
Lena Hohwü works as a postdoc in the Department of Public Health at Aarhus University, Denmark. In March, she visited DECIPHer for a month. We asked … Read more - Process evaluation and policy: presenting to GSR
Rachel Brown and Rhiannon Evans recently taught a DECIPHer short course to researchers from Welsh Government. Here are Rachel’s thoughts on the day. In March, myself and Rhiannon Evans delivered DECIPHer’s … Read more - Toddlers, teaching and transferable skills
From English teacher to researching teachers’ mental health: How has one informed the other? SHRN Research Assistant Amy Edwards looks back on her career trajectory The morning … Read more - School policy and young people’s risk of cannabis, mephedrone and novel psychoactive substances (NPS) use
A study by DECIPHer PhD student Luke Midgley explores the influence of school substance misuse policies on young people’s risk of cannabis, mephedrone and NPS use. This article … Read more - Meet our new Research Associates
Lianna Angel I have recently taken up the position of Research Associate at DECIPHer and will primarily be leading on the Children’s Heath, E-cigarettes and Tobacco … Read more - My first sandpit: Digital health interventions for cancer prevention
Dr. Caroline Wright recently attended the ‘Implementing Digital Health Interventions for Cancer Prevention’ Sandpit Workshop in Potomac, Maryland. Here she describes the experience. Portrait courtesy of the … Read more - ‘An invaluable experience!’ Aleks’ CUROP placement
Aleksandra Goudie, third-year joint honours Law and Sociology student, recommends her CUROP placement at DECIPHer I was actively seeking to obtain a summer placement which would help … Read more - Dani: My CUROP DECIPHer placement
Danielle Couturiaux, a second-year Politics and Sociology student, completed a summer CUROP placement at DECIPHer. At the start of this year it dawned on me that my third-year … Read more - ‘A brilliant opportunity’ – Marianne’s CUROP experience
Marianne Davies, a first-year Social Analytics student, describes her CUROP placement at DECIPHer I initially applied for a CUROP placement because I was really interested in the … Read more - ‘I felt part of a community’ – Chloe’s CUROP placement
Chloe Ryce, a second-year psychology student, reflects on her CUROP placement at DECIPHer. I first learnt about the DECIPHer CUROP project when I came across an email advertisement … Read more - Infant feeding and a changing public health policy direction
Heather Trickey is a Research Associate in DECIPHer and a Senior Researcher for NCT. Earlier this year she spoke to www.ourmilkyway.com on the need for a whole-system, … Read more - ‘Fascinating and rewarding’ – Lopa’s CUROP placement
Lopa Banerjee, a fourth year Medicine student at Cardiff University, has just completed her Cardiff University Research Opportunities Programme (CUROP)placement at DECIPHer. I applied for the … Read more - From Denmark to Wales: My time at DECIPHer
As visiting PhD student Torill Rotevatn prepares to return to Aalborg University, Denmark, she looks back on her six-month research stay at DECIPHer In September 2016, I started … Read more - Meet DECIPHer’s new CUROP students
This year, DECIPHer has a bumper intake of seven CUROP students (Cardiff University Research Opportunity Placements). CUROP provides opportunities for Cardiff University undergraduate students to gain experience working on … Read more - Blog: Alcohol education in universities: effective or a waste of time?
Rachel Brown is a DECIPHer Research Associate. Her paper ‘Contrasting Staff and Student Views on Alcohol Education Provision in a UK University’ was recently published in the journal Drugs: … Read more - Blog: Why we need clearer guidance on pilot and feasibility studies
This blog was first published by BioMed Central. With a movement towards feasibility and pilot work in public health interventions, the need for clearer guidance on how … Read more - Blog: Women need better information about drinking in pregnancy
This article, by DECIPHer Research Associates Heather Trickey and Rachel Brown, was published on May 22, 2018 by The Conversation. Heather also works part-time as a Senior Researcher … Read more - Getting to know you: G.J. Melendez-Torres
G.J. is a Senior Lecturer in Social Sciences and Health. He has taken the artistic route to introduce himself and his academic journey to DECIPHer… - Getting to know you: ALPHA’s Peter Gee
I joined DECIPHer in December 2016 as the Public Involvement Officer, but I’ve been employed with Cardiff University for over four years, mainly based at the … Read more - Wellbeing in Secondary Education – A WISE Study Update
The mental health and wellbeing of children and young people is a major public health concern. Recent policy commitments across England and Wales have demonstrated … Read more - In Transit: from New York City to Cardiff, Wales
The start of the New Year marked an exciting change in my life: I flew across the pond from my home in Manhattan, New York … Read more - Support for alcohol labelling interventions and the role of the third-person effect
Written by DECIPHer Research Fellow, Dr Rachel Brown A recent paper by Maynard et al. (2017) describes the findings from a study where undergraduate student drinkers … Read more - Cardiff University Celebrating Excellence Awards – The Story Behind the Tweet
On the 23rd of August 2017, DECIPHer was informed of the exciting news that the research centre had been nominated for the Cardiff University Celebrating Excellence Award 2017 in the … Read more - Why Do We Need to Make Health Promotion for Young People a Priority
Evidence from Key Data on Young People 2017 Dr Rakhee Shah, Association for Young People’s Health The Association for Young People’s Health (AYPH) – the UK’s … Read more - First-hand experience of the DECIPHer short course on complex interventions
Guest blog contributed by Laurence Taggart Laurence Taggart, who recently attended the DECIPHer short course on complex interventions at Cardiff University on the 27th September 2017, … Read more - PhD Student Abigail Lyndon Is Praised On Her Truly Multi-Disciplinary Work at DECIPHer
Abigail Lyndon, a PhD student part funded by DECIPHer at the University of Bristol has recently seen her paper “Risk to Heroin Users of Polydrug Use of Pregabalin … Read more - The CHARMING Study – What is it all about?
With the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommending that children should participate in 60 minutes or more of physical activity per day to improve their health, childhood physical … Read more - Motivational Interviewing in Philly 2017
Jordan Van Godwin: My trip to the International Conference for Motivational Interviewing (ICMI) 2017, offered a number of firsts for me. It was the first international conference … Read more - A Week at the DECIPHer Summer 2017 Short Courses
By Dr Linda McConnon In June 2017 I attended two DECIPHer Short Courses: I am currently managing two projects at DECIPHer in Cardiff: PACERS and The Jack Trial. … Read more - Protecting babies in emergencies
Guidance is needed on infant and young child feeding for families in the UK affected by disasters and emergencies. Heather Trickey and Helen Gray Disaster … Read more - From Undergrad to Postgrad – My academic journey so far
By Amy Bond In 2016, I applied for a Cardiff University Research Opportunities Summer Placement (CUROP) at the DECIPHer research centre. The CUROP scheme was initially brought … Read more - New research on young people’s experiences of primary care services
A guest blog from the Association for Young People’s Health By Arrash Yassaee and Ann Hagell Although adolescence is usually a very healthy life stage, young … Read more - The CVI Project: How the DECIPHer short courses in 2014 led to a 5-year NIHR funded programme of research
By Dr Cathy Williams DECIPHer Affiliate and Reader in Paediatric Opthalmology at the School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol As a hospital-based … Read more - Infant Feeding: How might ideas from the traditions of public health, psychology and philosophy help us to Change the Conversation
Heather Trickey DECIPHer Research Associate To time with UNICEF UK Baby Friendly’s Annual Conference, Heather Trickey has brought together a series of short articles providing new perspectives on … Read more - A Summary of the September 2016 Process Evaluation Short Course
By Dr Michelle Edwards I attended the DECIPHer Short Course on Process Evaluation of Complex Interventions on 28th September 2016. I’m currently working at DECIPHer in … Read more - Rachel Morris – My DECIPHer Placement
This summer I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to undertake an eight-week placement at DECIPHer. Although I was very excited, I was also … Read more - Karin Kanias – My DECIPHer Placement
Having reached the end of my 2nd year Social Science (BPS) BSc, it dawned on me that my final year and dissertation were fast approaching, and I … Read more - My DECIPHer Placement
As a first year SOCSI student, I was extremely nervous about applying for the 8-week paid placement through the Cardiff University Research Opportunities Programme (CUROP). Although I was … Read more - ‘It’s not the responsibility of individual mothers to improve breastfeeding rates’ – Operationalising an ecological approach.
In the podcast (via Sprogcast) linked below, Heather Trickey draws on her current PhD research, and her research and voluntary work for the National Childbirth Trust (NCT) to … Read more - DECIPHer New Starter – Dr Sara Long
After two years of linking with DECIPHer through a previous role in Public Health Wales NHS Trust, I am particularly excited to have started here. I have … Read more
Home »