Welcome to CHAMP
Child, Adolescent and Parent Mental Health research group at Manchester Metropolitan University — evidence-led research that makes a real difference to children, young people and families.
1 million
moments of real family life captured with headcams
1,780+
Primary pupils reached
27
Schools supported
1,233
Families in WCHADS
5
Countries in our network
Research that challenges, connects and changes lives
We aim to challenge narratives in how mental health is measured and understood in children, young people and parents and caregivers.
We take a developmental approach, bridging the gap between developmental science theory and real-world prevention of future mental health problems.
We focus on bio-psycho-social mechanisms, family systems and real-world settings in schools, communities, homes and mental health support services.
Our strengths include epidemiological expertise and access to large international longitudinal cohorts with intergenerational mental health data, innovation in observational methods to capture family dynamics (wearable cams, AI and video-based), co-design and nested qualitative work.
Longitudinal research
Large cohort studies tracking families from pregnancy through adolescence, uncovering how mental health develops across generations.
School programmes
Preventative emotional health support delivered by MMU students in Greater Manchester primary schools at no cost.
Community engagement
Children, young people and families as active co-designers of our research — not just participants.
Featured research projects
School Wellbeing Project
A preventative emotional health programme delivered by MMU students across 27 Greater Manchester schools.
The Wirral Child Health and Development Study
A longitudinal birth cohort of 1,233 families tracked from pregnancy to age 16 in the Wirral.
Wearable Cams and Parent-Child Interactions
Using AI and wearable cameras to capture real-time parent-child interactions at home. Funded by ERC.
Engagement and involvement of children and young people and families as experts by experience
Creative, co-produced research that puts children, young people and families with lived experience at the centre, shaping research questions, priorities and outputs through public involvement and engagement.
A global research network
Our partnerships span five countries, examining how culture, context and social inequality shape child and parent mental health across the world.
Meet the people behind the research
CHAMP brings together researchers, clinicians and PhD students with expertise across developmental psychology, epidemiology, psychiatry and community engagement.
Join our research community
Whether you are a researcher, school, family or funder, there are many ways to get involved with CHAMP’s work.