Child Orientated Mental Health Innovation Collaborative, England

Agnes Wood a Research Assistant at The Child Orientated Mental health Innovation Collaborative (COMIC), part of the Leeds and York NHS trust. In her first year at COMIC, she created and ran, the COMIC Young People’s Advisory Network, a collection of young people and community groups across Yorkshire who help co-produce the innovative young people’s mental health research conducted in the team. This has included: The use of virtual reality to improve sound sensitivity in autistic children, factors contributing to eating disorder inpatient admissions, using nature to reduce symptoms of ADHD and the use of psychoeducation and exercise to reduce CAMHS waiting lists. Through the YPAN, the team can develop research ideas in collaboration with children, young people and their families. It also allows us to work with community groups, clinical staff, academics and external partners with a vested interest in the improvement of the mental wellbeing of children and young people. Alongside this, Agnes is currently working on three major study developments including: Involving non-speaking autistic children in health and social care decisions, identifying factors contributing to eating disorder admissions and supporting adults to change their smoking behaviours after a smokefree inpatient stay.