- School meals focus of new UK-wide study
Researchers will investigate how children can be better supported to make healthier choices The provision, uptake and consumption of school meals will be investigated in… Read More »School meals focus of new UK-wide study - Major new Horizon Europe grant to advance research on child maltreatment services
A new €6.3 million initiative will bring together researchers from 12 countries to address critical gaps in identifying and supporting cases of children who have… Read More »Major new Horizon Europe grant to advance research on child maltreatment services - Experts join forces to improve research on suicide prevention and self-harm in Wales
Cardiff University academics are teaming up with experts across Wales to drive research into suicide prevention and self-harm. The National Centre for Suicide Prevention and… Read More »Experts join forces to improve research on suicide prevention and self-harm in Wales - Expertise, guidance and support – five years of the SAB
January 2025 marked the the last meeting of the DECIPHer Scientific Advisory Board in its current form, and an opportunity for reflection and feedback. The… Read More »Expertise, guidance and support – five years of the SAB - Metrics reloaded: DECIPHer research widely cited in global policy documents
New Altmetric report finds DECIPHer research influencing policy worldwide Cardiff University Impact and Engagement team recently ran a report through Altmetric on mentions of Cardiff… Read More »Metrics reloaded: DECIPHer research widely cited in global policy documents - DECIPHer welcomes a new phase of Health and Care Research Wales funding
DECIPHer to receive £2.85m funding as part of £49m investment in research infrastructure The funding, which was announced on 27th January 2025, has been awarded across two… Read More »DECIPHer welcomes a new phase of Health and Care Research Wales funding - DECIPHer turns 15
To mark the 15-year anniversary of DECIPHer’s launch, we invited colleagues and collaborators to celebrate in SPARK. The celebration, held on 21st January 2025, brought… Read More »DECIPHer turns 15 - Physical activity up among secondary school pupils in Wales
Physical activity among secondary school pupils has increased in Wales, reversing a decline that started in 2017. The School Health Research Network (SHRN), a collaboration… Read More »Physical activity up among secondary school pupils in Wales - DECIPHer Annual Report 2023-4 out now
Our fourth annual report as a Health and Care Research Wales-funded research centre is ready to read The report covers an exceptionally productive period for DECIPHer… Read More »DECIPHer Annual Report 2023-4 out now - New Funding Announcement – The School Health Research Network (SHRN)
The School Health Research Network (SHRN) is delighted to have received funding from the Welsh Government to help build the next phase of their ambitious… Read More »New Funding Announcement – The School Health Research Network (SHRN) - DECIPHer professor becomes new chair of NIHR Public Health Research Funding Committee
The committee funds studies evaluating the impact of real-world interventions on health and health inequalities in the UK. From July 2024, Graham Moore, a professor… Read More »DECIPHer professor becomes new chair of NIHR Public Health Research Funding Committee - Changes and challenges: How are teachers experiencing wellbeing in schools?
As part of their evaluation of the whole-school approach to emotional and mental wellbeing, DECIPHer researchers asked teachers about wellbeing in schools In 2021, Welsh… Read More »Changes and challenges: How are teachers experiencing wellbeing in schools? - New study on peer-on-peer abuse in colleges
The report explores learners’ experiences of abuse and their perception and experience of college-level policies and procedures The report, which can be read here, was… Read More »New study on peer-on-peer abuse in colleges - How are health services in Wales supporting Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities?
A new mapping study looks at barriers experienced by Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities when accessing health services and makes key suggestions to improve uptake. The study, which… Read More »How are health services in Wales supporting Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities? - Safe as… schools? Where and with whom do pupils feel most secure?
In 2023, DECIPHer researchers spoke with pupils and asked them to create posters around the topic of feeling ‘safe’ in their schools. In 2021, Welsh… Read More »Safe as… schools? Where and with whom do pupils feel most secure? - ‘Future research leader’ Dr. Rebecca Anthony selected for GW4 Crucible 2024
Dr. Anthony was one of 30 researchers chosen to take part in the early career researcher leadership development programme GW4 announced the new cohort in… Read More »‘Future research leader’ Dr. Rebecca Anthony selected for GW4 Crucible 2024 - New Senedd report asks: How can we stop gender based violence?
A new report by Welsh Parliament’s Equality and Social Justice Committee looks at how we can help to end the epidemic of violence against women.… Read More »New Senedd report asks: How can we stop gender based violence? - Emotional problems in young people were rising rapidly even before the pandemic
There was a substantial increase in emotional problems among young people in Wales in the years immediately before the pandemic, research from Cardiff University shows.… Read More »Emotional problems in young people were rising rapidly even before the pandemic - £5 million awarded to reduce health inequality
£5 million has been awarded to Rhondda Cynon Taf Council by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), with the aim of reducing… Read More »£5 million awarded to reduce health inequality - SHRN Data Dashboard Project one of three winners of the Mental Health Data Prize
The School-Level Digital Dashboard is one of three projects to make it through to the Sustainability Phase. The aim of the School Level Digital Dashboard is to empower schools… Read More »SHRN Data Dashboard Project one of three winners of the Mental Health Data Prize - SHRN data informs Public Health Wales vaping guidance
Public Health Wales has published new guidance for secondary schools to help tackle the rise in youth vaping The guidance, which can be read here, provides… Read More »SHRN data informs Public Health Wales vaping guidance - Cardiff University to lead the Wales arm of a new £10 million four UK nation hub for behavioural research
A new UK hub for behavioural research has been funded to help tackle societal and economic challenges. Behavioural Research UK (BR-UK) is supported by a £10 million grant from the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), and will form the centrepiece of ESRC’s investment in behavioural research. - ALPHA supports TRIUMPH youth advisory group
ALPHA, DECIPHer’s public involvement group funded by Health and Care Research Wales, was recently involved in a UK-wide project with young people co-producing a study… Read More »ALPHA supports TRIUMPH youth advisory group - Supporting educationalists to become more adept in the use of health and wellbeing data
June 2023 saw the launch of ADEPT-HSC, a course aiming to enhance the knowledge and skillset of Healthy Schools Coordinators supporting schools in their use… Read More »Supporting educationalists to become more adept in the use of health and wellbeing data - Social media regularly used by 48% of primary age children in Wales, report shows
Nearly half (48%) of Welsh children aged seven to 11 are regularly using social media, according to a survey led by DECIPHer The School Health… Read More »Social media regularly used by 48% of primary age children in Wales, report shows - New study shows addressing masculinities helps to prevent unintended pregnancies
New study shows addressing masculinities helps to prevent unintended pregnancies On World Contraception Day 2023, a study funded by the National Institute for Health and… Read More »New study shows addressing masculinities helps to prevent unintended pregnancies - Dr Rhiannon Evans awarded Churchill Fellowship
The award enables Dr Evans to travel to further her understanding of international innovation in suicide prevention among care-experienced children and young people. The Churchill… Read More »Dr Rhiannon Evans awarded Churchill Fellowship - Healthy Working Wales to launch evaluation tools
Since 2019, DECIPHer and Healthy Working Wales have collaborated to create online health and wellbeing needs assessment tools to understand, inform and evaluate workplace health… Read More »Healthy Working Wales to launch evaluation tools - Changes to how schools are assessed and improved professional learning critical to the success of education reforms in Wales, study concludes
Researchers at Cardiff University interviewed policymakers and those who hold a strategic role in designing and implementing the Health and Wellbeing aspects of the Curriculum… Read More »Changes to how schools are assessed and improved professional learning critical to the success of education reforms in Wales, study concludes - Research into young people’s mental health hopes to stop children ‘falling through the gap’
A Cardiff University academic is investigating how young people at risk of developing mental health conditions could be better supported. More than half of all… Read More »Research into young people’s mental health hopes to stop children ‘falling through the gap’ - Nearly a quarter of young people in Wales are reporting very high levels of mental health symptoms following the pandemic
More than 123,000 learners were asked their views in a national health and wellbeing survey. Nearly a quarter of secondary school learners in Wales reported… Read More »Nearly a quarter of young people in Wales are reporting very high levels of mental health symptoms following the pandemic - 3m euro grant for Cardiff University research team and collaborators to develop well-being programme for families in Eastern Europe
A team of researchers at Cardiff University as part of a consortium have been granted 3m euros to advance family interventions for families with adolescents… Read More »3m euro grant for Cardiff University research team and collaborators to develop well-being programme for families in Eastern Europe - Adolescent wellbeing improved by online contact with close friends
Frequent online communication with best friends and existing friendship groups is associated with better wellbeing in young people, new research by Cardiff University has found.… Read More »Adolescent wellbeing improved by online contact with close friends - SHRN data to support Eco-Schools monitoring
New Eco-Schools Wales resource explains how to use SHRN data to support lessons on environmental topics Eco-Schools is a global programme engaging 19.5 million children across… Read More »SHRN data to support Eco-Schools monitoring - DECIPHer annual report 2021/22 out now
Our second annual report as a Health and Care Research Wales funded research centre is ready to read The report covers a busy and productive year for… Read More »DECIPHer annual report 2021/22 out now - Young people’s online communication behaviours – positive or negative for wellbeing?
Researchers Emily Lowthian and Rebecca Anthony have won funding from eNurture (UKRI) to conduct research on young people’s online communication behaviours and risks and benefits… Read More »Young people’s online communication behaviours – positive or negative for wellbeing? - Children who started secondary school in 2021 were more likely to report elevated symptoms of depression compared to their pre-pandemic peers, analysis shows
Compared to children who began secondary school in 2019, children in Wales who entered year seven in September 2021 were significantly more likely to report… Read More »Children who started secondary school in 2021 were more likely to report elevated symptoms of depression compared to their pre-pandemic peers, analysis shows - Dr Rebecca Anthony Wins Mental Health Research Incubator Award
Dr Anthony was awarded for her vital work examining mental health problems among children in adoptive families. Judges at Mental Health Research Incubator awarded seven researchers whose… Read More »Dr Rebecca Anthony Wins Mental Health Research Incubator Award - How young people learn about relationships and sexuality subject of new research project
How young people are living and learning about relationships and sexuality will be the focus of a new research project being led by academics at… Read More »How young people learn about relationships and sexuality subject of new research project - SPARKing Health and Care Research in Wales
A cohort of talented academics from Cardiff University’s Social Science Research Park (SPARK) are among a list of Senior Research Leaders announced by Health and… Read More »SPARKing Health and Care Research in Wales - Online services and interventions: How can they best support the mental health and wellbeing of care-experienced children and young people?
New study, led by Dr Rhiannon Evans, is a partnership between The Fostering Network, Voices from Care Cymru, Cardiff University (CASCADE, DECIPHer and School of… Read More »Online services and interventions: How can they best support the mental health and wellbeing of care-experienced children and young people? - Menthol cigarettes used by three fifths of young smokers in Wales prior to their ban
The use of menthol cigarettes in underage smokers was widespread in Wales before a ban was introduced, according to new research from Cardiff University and… Read More »Menthol cigarettes used by three fifths of young smokers in Wales prior to their ban - New report will aid whole school approach
Researchers from DECIPHer and the Wolfson Centre for Young People’s Mental Health have developed a new evaluability assessment for the Whole School Approach to mental… Read More »New report will aid whole school approach - Fuel for thought – DECIPHer research contributes to Welsh Government’s school dinner pledge
DECIPHer evidence cited by Welsh Government in response to Children’s Commissioner report The debate on free school meals frequently makes headlines, especially over the last couple of… Read More »Fuel for thought – DECIPHer research contributes to Welsh Government’s school dinner pledge - Children’s relationships with teachers remained strong despite toll of pandemic, report finds
Primary schools have played a vital role in supporting children through the significant mental health challenges caused by COVID-19, according to a report by the… Read More »Children’s relationships with teachers remained strong despite toll of pandemic, report finds - DECIPHer annual report published
We are pleased to announce our first annual report, spanning April 2020 to March 2021, as a Health and Care Research Wales funded research centre. This year… Read More »DECIPHer annual report published - First online version of DECIPHer’s CPD course attracts international audience
During the COVID-19 pandemic, DECIPHer adapted their annual face-to-face summer short course in methodological innovation in public health intervention science to take it online. Dr… Read More »First online version of DECIPHer’s CPD course attracts international audience - CHETS II: Childhood exposure to second hand smoke in ‘private’ spaces
DECIPHer has worked closely with the Welsh Government on reducing the harm caused to children by secondhand tobacco smoke. Wales was the first UK country… Read More »CHETS II: Childhood exposure to second hand smoke in ‘private’ spaces - Children living with someone who has mental health issues two-thirds more likely to experience similar difficulties
The risk of children developing mental ill-health increases significantly when they have lived with someone who also has a common mental health disorder, research has… Read More »Children living with someone who has mental health issues two-thirds more likely to experience similar difficulties - Partnership to empower Namibian women
Five mid-career Namibian professionals are to win Fellowships at DECIPHer to study how girls’ education can lead to female empowerment. Cardiff’s award-winning Phoenix Project has secured Centre… Read More »Partnership to empower Namibian women - Could E-Cigarettes help people to quit smoking?
The National Institute for Health Research has awarded a £1.7M grant to London South Bank University (LSBU) to conduct a trial to help those experiencing… Read More »Could E-Cigarettes help people to quit smoking? - Call for urgent action on energy drinks as new UK research reveals daily use among young people
A consistent number of young people are having energy drinks daily, despite an overall drop in the consumption of sugary beverages over time, new research… Read More »Call for urgent action on energy drinks as new UK research reveals daily use among young people - New paper investigates how children’s mental health influences move to secondary school
A team of researchers led by Professor Frances Rice at Cardiff University have identified some of the factors involved in how well young people settle… Read More »New paper investigates how children’s mental health influences move to secondary school - New SHRN survey: Fifth of young people in Wales were experiencing poor mental health prior to COVID-19
Almost 1 in 5 (19%) young people in Wales reported very high levels of mental health symptoms before the COVID-19 pandemic, a Cardiff University report… Read More »New SHRN survey: Fifth of young people in Wales were experiencing poor mental health prior to COVID-19 - New framework published on ‘whole school approach’ to mental health and well-being
DECIPHer and Wolfson Centre for Mental Health contribute to mental health policy If COVID-19 has taught us anything, it is that we cannot underestimate the… Read More »New framework published on ‘whole school approach’ to mental health and well-being - The ADAPT Study: How it started; how it’s going
Since 2018, DECIPHer’s Professor Graham Moore and Doctor Rhiannon Evans have been leading an MRC-NIHR funded study to develop guidance on adapting interventions for new… Read More »The ADAPT Study: How it started; how it’s going - SHRN presents to NSERE
On 20th January 2021, Simon Murphy and Joan Roberts presented The Schools Health Research Network (SHRN): Supporting Research, Policy and Practice Around Young People’s Health… Read More »SHRN presents to NSERE - DECIPHer at the 2020 EUSPR conference
DECIPHer had a strong presence at the recent European Society for Prevention Research (EUSPR) conference, which was held online over three days in October. This year’s… Read More »DECIPHer at the 2020 EUSPR conference - E-cigarette use among young people has fallen for the first time in Wales but declines in youth smoking have stalled
E-cigarette use among young people has fallen for the first time in Wales but declines in youth smoking have stalled, analysis from Cardiff University shows. The… Read More »E-cigarette use among young people has fallen for the first time in Wales but declines in youth smoking have stalled - Funding triumph for new DECIPHer-led project
DECIPHer is awarded research funding to explore how foster care services are being moved online during COVID-19 to support the mental health of children and… Read More »Funding triumph for new DECIPHer-led project - How do welsh primary school children view smoking and vaping?
DECIPHer-led research, funded by CRUK, talked to pupils, parents and teachers to find out if e-cigarettes make smoking tobacco more acceptable. Doctor Rachel Brown, who… Read More »How do welsh primary school children view smoking and vaping? - DECIPHer at the International Society for the Study of Self-Injury 2020 Conference
On June 27 2020, international colleagues in the field of nonsuicidal self-injury, including DECIPHer’s Rachel Parker, met up virtually at the International Society for the… Read More »DECIPHer at the International Society for the Study of Self-Injury 2020 Conference - Improved interventions needed to tackle mental health problems for children in care, say experts
Better mental health support for children and young people in care will be even more important following the Covid-19 crisis, say researchers Dr Rhiannon Evans… Read More »Improved interventions needed to tackle mental health problems for children in care, say experts - Getting animated about routine data
Two new videos explain data linkage and why routine data collection is so important for researchers. Produced by the Centre for Trials Research (CTR) and funded by… Read More »Getting animated about routine data - DECIPHer consultation: Should Welsh parents be allowed to withdraw their children from sex education?
DECIPHer recently contributed to the debate on Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) in Welsh schools via a consultation DECIPHer regularly contributes to consultations on major… Read More »DECIPHer consultation: Should Welsh parents be allowed to withdraw their children from sex education? - Study sheds light on difficulties faced by the most vulnerable young people in society
Young people in residential care need better support to overcome a range of challenges, Cardiff University academics say. The survey of school students aged 11… Read More »Study sheds light on difficulties faced by the most vulnerable young people in society - A TRIUMPHant get together
Workshop sets the agenda for improving young people’s mental health, with input from Youth Partner ALPHA The Transdisciplinary Research for the Improvement of Youth Mental Public… Read More »A TRIUMPHant get together - Study: High numbers of young people experimenting with gambling
Largest UK study of its kind reveals popularity of betting activities Two fifths (41%) of young people aged 11 to 16 report having engaged in… Read More »Study: High numbers of young people experimenting with gambling - First residential of TRIUMPH advisory group
A new video captures the great work from the TRIUMPH Network Youth Advisory Group on their first weekend away The Transdisciplinary Research for the Improvement… Read More »First residential of TRIUMPH advisory group - DECIPHer to collaborate on pioneering adolescent mental health research centre
The Wolfson Centre for Young People’s Mental Health will focus on understanding and developing new ways of reducing anxiety and depression in young people. The… Read More »DECIPHer to collaborate on pioneering adolescent mental health research centre - Policy roundtable on school breakfasts at Westminster
Free school breakfasts – will the government prioritise or pass up? Decipher’s Dr. Hannah Littlecott visited the House of Commons to discuss. On 4th September 2019… Read More »Policy roundtable on school breakfasts at Westminster - Largest report of its kind reveals the issues affecting adolescents today
Schools and society as a whole have a role to play in helping young people tackle numerous challenges around their health and wellbeing, say DECIPHer… Read More »Largest report of its kind reveals the issues affecting adolescents today - Student wellbeing in Wales: Initial findings from the 2017/18 health behaviour in school-aged children survey and SHRN student health and wellbeing survey
New SHRN paper published today reveals reasons to be cheerful Today, Cardiff University’s DECIPHer Research Centre published a briefing paper on “Student wellbeing in Wales”. DECIPHer’s School… Read More »Student wellbeing in Wales: Initial findings from the 2017/18 health behaviour in school-aged children survey and SHRN student health and wellbeing survey - Southwest Public Health Scientific Conference 2019
Another successful and stimulating get together for South West public health disciplines The organisers of the South West Public Health Scientific Conference 2019 would like to thank both… Read More »Southwest Public Health Scientific Conference 2019 - Growth in e-cigarette use hasn’t led young people to think smoking is ‘normal’
A DECIPHer study of young people’s opinions and behaviours finds no resurgence in smoking Young people’s views about smoking have continued to become more negative… Read More »Growth in e-cigarette use hasn’t led young people to think smoking is ‘normal’ - Meet DECIPHer’s new staff members
It’s been a busy few weeks at DECIPHer. Here are the newest recruits Erin Doherty, Research Administration Assistant and Personal Assistant to Dr… Read More »Meet DECIPHer’s new staff members
