Approaches to promote children’s mental health and wellbeing

You are invited to participate in a special event during Children's Mental Health Week 2026, organised by the UCL's Grand Challenge of Mental Health & Wellbeing and the Children and Young People’s Mental Health (CYPMH) Special Interest Group at UCL.

In responding to the current crisis in children’s mental health, there has been growing recognition of the value of approaches that extend beyond interventions explicitly targeted at mental health difficulties. Increasing attention is being given to the ways in which everyday activities and experiences can play a preventative and promotive role, helping to foster resilience, emotional wellbeing and positive development.

This event will showcase UCL research that explores the evidence linking activities such as the arts, leisure, and physical exercise with children’s mental health and wellbeing. It will consider what is known about the strength and nature of these relationships, as well as emerging research that seeks to understand the mechanisms through which such activities may exert their effects.

The event aims to stimulate discussion about how these forms of engagement can be harnessed to support children’s mental health and wellbeing. All are welcome to attend this event.

Date: Monday 9th February 2026

Time: 3:00-5:00pm (registration from 2:30pm)

Venue: Lecture theatre G03, 26 Bedford Way, London, WC1H 0AP

Chairs:

• Argyris Stringaris, Professor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Pro-Vice-Provost for the UCL Grand Challenge of Mental Health and Wellbeing.
• Essi Viding, Professor of Developmental Psychopathology and Pro-Vice-Provost for the UCL Grand Challenge of Mental Health and Wellbeing.

Speakers:

• Daisy Fancourt, Professor of Psychobiology & Epidemiology and Head of the Social Biobehavioural Research Group, UCL. Professor Daisy Fancourt’s research focuses on how social, cultural and behavioural factors influence mental and physical health across the life course. Her work examines the role of activities such as arts and cultural engagement, social connection, leisure and community participation in promoting wellbeing, preventing mental ill health, and reducing health inequalities, alongside the mechanisms through which these effects occur.
• Daniel Hayes, Senior Research Fellow in Social Science and Director of Social Prescribing Youth Network (SPYN), Institute of Epidemiology & Health Care, UCL. Dr Daniel Hayes’ research focuses on improving mental health and wellbeing among children and young people through person-centred, social and community-based approaches. His work examines how engagement in social, cultural and community activities can promote wellbeing, and how these forms of support can be integrated into mental health services.
• Flaminia Ronca, Associate Professor, Department of Targeted Intervention, UCL. Dr Flaminia Ronca's research focuses on developing the field of exercise neuroscience to understand how physical activity influences brain function, performance and wellbeing, and on applying this knowledge to real-world contexts such as law enforcement, education and social impact initiatives.
• Jonahan Roiser, Professor of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, UCL. Professor Jonathan Roiser’s research focuses on the neural and cognitive mechanisms underlying mental health difficulties and their treatment, with a particular emphasis on disrupted motivation in depression. His work examines how brain and psychological processes contribute to symptoms of mental illness and how these mechanisms can be targeted to improve treatment outcomes.

Programme:

2:30pm - Registration

3:00pm - Event commences - Welcome and introductions

5:00pm - Close

We look forward to your participation in this informative and engaging event. Secure your place by registering.

This event is supported by the Children and Young People’s Mental Health Special Interest Group and the UCL Grand Challenges of Mental Health and Wellbeing.

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