What’s the YPAG Working On in April 2025?
Author: Asher Wood
We have a number of projects underway, and it’s about time we shared an update!
The Social Emotions Project
We’re teaming up with UCL and Oxford University to test how interventions can positively impact social anxiety.
What’s the Update?
In July, we held a session that laid the groundwork for a sub-study that’s being conducted as part of the Social Emotions Project. Potential ethical problems of a intervention were discussed, as well as which core themes (relating to social anxiety disorder) make the most sense to collect data on.
Our discussions on impression management and masking helped refine the study to better reflect young people’s experiences, and after four practice interviews with YPAG members, we adjusted our content and communications with clarity in mind. The team is also currently refining the AI storytelling task, and our YPAG members have created small character profiles for the non-player characters.
E-Co-Flourishing Project
We’re developing green space-based programs that support the well-being of the Earth and humanity, at both local and global scales. We call this Ecological Collective Flourishing… or E-Co-Flourishing for short! What does it mean to be flourishing, and how can we use this information to improve mental health?
What’s the Update?
The first E-Co-Flourishing nature walk was held in Wytham Woods on the 28th September, and it was so successful that we’ve conducted 5 more walks since then. Each walk includes a pre-walk questionnaire, a 5 kilometre trail, and a follow-up focus group. With feedback from YPAG members, we refined our interactive activities to make them more engaging and meaningful. They also helped introduce play as a creative way to explore nature’s influence on mental health.
The AGILE Project
We’re looking into Nature-Based Programmes in schools to find out if they’re really making a difference in supporting young people’s mental health.
What’s the Update?
The project kicked off on the 5th of November with a glossary activity, where YPAG members reviewed research terms to help make them clear and accessible for a teenage audience. In February, YPAG members joined teachers and policymakers from the Department of Education (DfE) to discuss the benefits of nature-based programmes. Their insights will be turned into clear recommendations for policymakers to help schools roll out these programmes more effectively.
Chronic Pain
Research into adult pain has grown steadily, but there’s a lack of research into musculoskeletal (MSK) pain in young people. Alongside young people who have lived experience of chronic pain, we’re exploring how young people experience MSK pain and what helps protect their wellbeing.
What’s the Update?
YPAG members have provided feedback on our m-Path app, which is where participants track their pain and emotions over 30 days. During our regular sessions, YPAG helps us to interpret research findings and improve the study’s design.