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  • HeadStart evidence briefing 7: The mental health and wellbeing of adolescent boys and girls

    In this report, we aimed to a) establish whether mental health problems in young people are increasing, decreasing or staying the same over time; b) see whether there are any emerging developmental changes in mental health problems and subjective wellbeing during this period; c) explore any gender differences in the mental health problems and subjective wellbeing. Authors: Deighton, J., Yoon,Y., Garland, L. (2020).

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  • HeadStart evidence briefing 6: Shining a light on risk and protective factors: young people’s experiences

    This briefing reports the findings from two qualitative studies conducted as part of the HeadStart Learning Programme (national evaluation). Authors: Stapley, E., Eisenstadt, M., Demkowicz, O., Garland, L., Stock, S., Deighton, J. (2020).

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  • HeadStart evidence briefing 5: Whole school approaches to promoting mental health: what does the evidence say?

    This briefing is about using a whole school approach to promote mental health. Such approaches are a characteristic feature of HeadStart and are also encouraged in advice published by the Department for Education. Authors: Demkowicz, O., Humphrey, N. (2019).

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  • HeadStart evidence briefing 4: Does social action help young people with emerging mental health issues?

    This study aimed to evaluate Team Social Action (TSA), which is a targeted intervention run in schools by Headstart Newham. Strand 1 employed a waitlist randomised controlled trial (RCT) and strand 2 involved qualitative interviews with pupils and staff, to evaluate whether TSA had a positive and significant impact on young people’s wellbeing, school connection, and peer support. Authors: Gill, V., Panayiotou, M., Demkowicz, O., Humphrey, N. (2019).

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  • HeadStart evidence briefing 3: The relationship between mental health and school attainment, attendance and exclusions in young people aged 11 to 14

    Public facing summary of ‘Mental health and academic outputs’ looks at the relationship between mental health, attainment and attendance, using baseline data (2019). Authors: Lereya, T., Deighton, J. (2019).

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  • HeadStart evidence briefing 2: HeadStart year 1: national qualitative evaluation findings - young people's perspectives

    This document describes learning from the first year of the HeadStart programme, drawing on the first timepoint of research interviews conducted with young people at the HeadStart partnerships, as part of the qualitative evaluation of HeadStart led by EBPU. Authors: Stapley, E., Deighton, J. (2018).

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  • HeadStart evidence briefing 1: Mental health problems in young people, aged 11 to 14: results from the first HeadStart annual survey of 30,000 children

    This report explores the data related to the prevalence of mental health problems in young people. It investigates how this varies by demographics such as gender, ethnicity, special educational needs status, free school meal eligibility and child in need status. Authors: Deighton, J., Lereya, T., Patalay, P., Casey, P., Humphrey, N., & Wolpert, M. (2018).

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  • HeadStart heads up briefing 7: Mental health problems and subjective wellbeing: are they influenced by the same things?

    In this study, we focused on mental health problems and subjective wellbeing, which were measured in Year 8. We measured mental health problems with the emotional and behavioural difficulties subscales of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (2022).

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  • HeadStart heads up briefing 6: Targeted interventions in HeadStart: how do HeadStart partnerships support the mental health of young people, and do they reach those in need?

    In this briefing, we aim to illustrate the range of targeted interventions offered by six local authority led partnerships through the HeadStart programme. We also investigate whether these interventions reached young people with higher needs in terms of their mental health and wellbeing (2022).

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