Co-developing research in youth mental health: the CELEBRATE Project

In January 2024, we held the first dissemination event for the CELEBRATE Project, a UKRI-funded research programme dedicated to improving how researchers study the biology and mental health of young people through co-development with young people. Fast forward to May 2025, we have just hosted the final dissemination event, From Mission to Framework, where we shared key findings, celebrated milestones, and marked the successful conclusion of this two-year project. 

Understanding the CELEBRATE Project: 

Adolescence is a crucial period that shapes long-term outcomes, with mental health challenges during this time often having lasting effects. To better understand adolescent mental health, we must examine how environment and background influence and interact with biology during this key developmental phase. While numerous studies have examined social and environmental influences, biological research focused on adolescent mental health remains limited, particularly regarding the inclusion of diverse and representative cohorts. Addressing this gap requires a comprehensive framework to guide large-scale biological research that authentically reflects the diversity of adolescent populations. 

This is exactly where the CELEBRATE project comes in.

CELEBRATE stands for Co-producing a framework of guiding principles for Engaging representative and diverse cohorts of young peopLE in Biological Research in menTal hEalth. The project is a collaborative effort involving researchers, young people, parents, and teachers across Birmingham, Bradford, and London. At its core, CELEBRATE seeks to answer the question: What principles do young people and key stakeholders believe should guide researchers conducting biological research on youth mental health? Beyond this, CELEBRATE explores the perspectives of young people, parents/guardians, and schoolteachers, on how best to involve, engage, and retain young participants in biological research, recognising that many evidence gaps in biological research stem exactly from challenges in these very areas.

To achieve its aims, the CELEBRATE Project is structured into five work packages. At the final event, members from each of the work package teams presented key findings and reflections, bringing together representatives from all three study sites. I had the privilege of co-presenting work package 1, which focused on conducting a thorough review of scientific evidence to investigate the needs, barriers, and facilitators of conducting biological mental health research with young people. The event was a great opportunity to see how our findings fit into the wider project, a nice way to wrap up everyone’s hard work. 

The CELEBRATE Project Work Packages

Co-production with Young People 

At the heart of each work package and the overall project is the Young Experts Working Group (YEWG), composed of ten young people aged 11–16 with a strong interest in mental health research. The YEWG played a central role in co-leading and co-delivering the project, demonstrating a new research approach that prioritises and amplifies youth voices. Their involvement ensured the project remained relevant and reflective of the real needs and experiences of young people, aiming to overcome barriers to their participation in biological mental health research. The YEWG were also actively involved in co-delivering the event alongside members of the team from all study sites.

The event opened with remarks from our Principal Investigator, Professor Paola Dazzan, who set the stage by reflecting on the journey and highlighting the power of co-development. Soon after, we were joined by members of the YEWG, Noa, Daniel and Tash, who walked the audience through reasons for behind their involvement and the structure of their involvement. This included bi-monthly meetings where they discussed project updates, plans for future involvement and completed group activities that allowed them to actively engage with the research process, as well as email updates containing both written and video content prepared by Niyah Campbell, our youth involvement co-lead, presenting an innovative way to communicate with young people in research! Towards the end of the event, the YEWG reflected on their experience, emphasising the value and opportunities CELEBRATE had offered them.  

Last year, during Children’s Mental Health Week, we asked members of the YEWG to share their thoughts on the importance of including young people’s voices in mental health research. Abel said, “We aren’t as experienced as adults, but we still know what we’ve experienced,” highlighting the value of lived experience regardless of age. Daniel noted, “Our voice matters because we are the ones being affected,” underscoring that young people are at the centre of these issues. Fawad added, “Adults may not have the same diverse and impacting opinions that children have… if you ask them about their youth, it might have looked different.” Together, these insights make a powerful case for why youth perspectives are vital to shaping meaningful research, illustrating exactly why CELEBRATE was co-developed with young people themselves. 

As a research assistant, I had the opportunity to attend several of the YEWG meetings, getting the opportunity to witness firsthand the insight, enthusiasm, and thoughtful contributions these young people brought to the project. Seeing them take such an active role in the final dissemination event was a fitting and meaningful way to bring the journey full circle, highlighting the value of their involvement throughout. 

Principle Investigator Professor Paola Dazzan

Conclusion and Next Steps

The project concluded with our Principal Investigator presenting a draft framework that synthesises insights from each work package. This framework stands as a primary outcome of the project, offering guiding principles to help researchers conduct more relevant, valid, and representative biological research on young people’s mental health. Moving forward, these findings will be shared widely through research papers, conference presentations, and engaging content on social media. The review as part of work package 1 will also be published soon! By doing so, we aim to ensure that the knowledge gained contributes to shaping future research practices and ultimately improves mental health outcomes for young people.

Stay tuned for updates as we continue to share our journey and findings with the wider scientific and research community.