David Troy, a SPHR trainee has recently completed a Research Network (ResNet) project, here he tells us about his work and applying for the ResNet project award.
What are your main research interests?
My main research interests are in children and young people’s mental health and resilience. I am particularly interested in how parents can support their children with the development and maintenance of their resilience. I am also interested in adverse childhood experiences and how they influence risk taking in adolescence.
What made you decide on a career in public health research?
Upon completing my PhD in Experimental Psychology where my work had a public health focus, I wanted to continue doing research that benefitted the public’s health. I was fortunate enough to secure a position in the Population Health Sciences Department at the University of Bristol in a trainee role where I developed expertise in different methods and topic areas. I really enjoyed the projects focused on understanding and improving young people’s mental health and I wanted to carry these through to impact.
Can you tell me about your work at the School?
I have worked across the Public Mental Health and Children, Young People & Families work programmes. I have mainly been involved in research which aims to improve the mental health of children and young people in educational settings. We conducted a systematic review to identify interventions or changes within educational settings that have the potential to improve mental health outcomes and inequalities for all young people. I have assisted on other work in these programmes when called upon.
What made you apply for ResNet project award?
I wanted to conduct research into improving young people’s mental health by working on their resilience. I wanted to include their parents in improving their resilience. The ResNet funding call would provide me with an opportunity to test the feasibility of a resilience building programme for parents of secondary school children. In terms of career development, I felt it was the right time for me to secure research funding as a principal investigator and manage a project from inception to dissemination.
What impact has this ResNet project had?
The project has had concrete impact on the families that participated. Feedback I have received from parents have noted that the course changed their thinking (attitudes, outlook and perceptions) in terms of how to deal resiliently when their children present problems and obstacles. The course has also improved communication with their children which has improved their relationship and made it possible to work through problems they are experiencing.
Would you recommend this award to others, and what advice would you give?
I would wholeheartedly recommend this award to other early career researchers. It gives you valuable experience in proposing a research idea and the detail you need to include. It gives you experience of planning and executing a research project, managing collaborators and fellow researchers, and troubleshooting unexpected issues that will undoubtedly arise.
My advice would be to give yourself enough time to get feedback on your research idea from senior colleagues and contact potential collaborators early in the process who can also input on your research plans.
What has been the highlight of your career?
The highlight of my career to date is taking a leading role in conducting the systematic review I mentioned above. The review pinpointed interventions and factors in school settings with strong evidence for improving young people’s mental health. Moving forward, public health researchers and professionals in the education sector can use the review’s findings to marshal resources into interventions and factors that can have a positive impact on young people’s mental health.
Find out more about David’s work