The School Mental Health Innovation Network
The King’s Maudsley Partnership launched the School Mental Health Innovation Network in 2024 in partnership with ESRC Centre for Society and Mental Health.
The School Mental Health Innovation Network aims to improve mental health and wellbeing outcomes for children and young people across South London. Through annual school-based surveys, the network will drive evidence-based, needs-led allocation of resources and interventions, ensuring support reaches schools and students that need it most.
Benefits of joining for schools
- Expert support - access mental health resources and expert guidance from leading researchers and clinicians.
- Community opportunities - offer students, staff, and parents an opportunity to engage in research, including placements at King’s College London.
- Collaborative learning - join a network of schools, share knowledge, and shape future mental health practices together.
Benefits of joining for researchers
- School engagement made easy - connect directly with schools open to collaboration – no cold outreach needed.
- Real-world evidence - take part in building a strong evidence base on school needs across South London.
- Cross-disciplinary insights - work alongside education professionals, clinicians and policymakers for deeper impact.
- Policy and practice impact - help shape how schools approach mental health, turning research into real-world change.
The School Mental Health Innovation Network launched its first workshop in 2024, bringing together over 100 attendees, including young people and professionals across the mental health, education and policy sectors. This event, sponsored by the Maudsley Charity, featured thought-provoking talks, panel discussions, and roundtable sessions, setting the stage for the powerful collaborative nature of this initiative.
Some of the key themes that came out from our workshop:
- The importance of collaborating: researchers, clinicians and school communities need to work together – our combined knowledge and experiences are the key to improving mental health in schools.
- Tailored interventions for schools: every school is different; resources cannot be one-size-fits-all but instead need to be adaptable to effectively consider the diversity of school communities.
- The impact of social media on young people’s mental health: there is a need for clearer guidance on how schools and families can navigate social media platforms to support young people’s wellbeing.