How this researcher helps parents with their children’s mental Health“>health
Sandra Connell. Image: University College Dublin
Connell points to a noticeable upward trend in the levels of children experiencing anxiety
As a qualified mental health nurse for more than two decades, University College Dublin (UCD) PhD researcher Sandra Connell has turned her attention to developing an online re
“My professional journey began in 2003 when I qualified as a mental health nurse. The experience sparked my interest in mental health education and led me into academia,” says Connell, who spent a number of years lecturing in mental health nursing in UK universities. She returned to Ireland and took up a similar role at UCD
Her current doctoral research on youth mental health is supported by the UCD Foundation through a charitable donation from Cycle Against Suicide
What inspired you to become a researcher?
My interest in research began to take shape during the time when I worked on two projects early in my academic career. I had the opportunity to shadow two highly experienced professors, watching how they approached questions, structured studies and worked with others for the project aim and I found this inspiring
Even though my own role at the time was more focused on teaching and learning, I found myself drawn to the way they navigated the research
The real spark came later when I took on the research assistant role. I realised how much I enjoyed gathering information and gaining a richer understanding of people’s experiences. That combination of structure, curiosity and meaning-making felt like a natural fit for me and ultimately led me to pursue a PhD
Can you tell us about the research you’re currently working on?
The PhD I am currently undertaking is a doctoral scholarship in youth mental health, supported by the UCD Foundation through a charitable donation from Cycle Against Suicide
The project began with a broad aim – design, develop and evaluate an online reies. Led by a review of the Irish landscape alongside the broader academic literature, I found myself increasingly drawn to experiences of parents of primary school aged children who are anxious, and how best to support them
Through the early stages of the research, the project naturally evolved into a more focused direction- creating a digital reas been shaped through ongoing learning, co design and a growing understanding of what parents preferences and needs are those early, often uncertain moments
In your opinion, why is your research important?
This research is important in light of a noticeable upward trend in the levels of children experiencing anxiety beyond ordinary worry, at levels that disrupt their daily lives and place additional strain on their parents
This is happening against a backdrop of multifaceted barriers to support including inequities in service provision, long waitlists, and general uncertainty among parents about how or even whether to seek help
Many families may also find themselves in a difficult gap; their child is struggling, but not to a level that meets diagnostic thresholds for formal support. This leaves parents searching for support and guidance at a time where they already often feel unsure, isolated, and overwhelmed. Intervening with parents, particularly for children of this age, can be crucial
Parents are often the people who spend the most time with the child, notice early changes, and are tasked with accessing help for their child. By strengthening parents’ understanding, confidence, and sense of being able to respond to their child’s anxiety we hope to create meaningful change
The goal is to create an accessible, user centred digital reical, grounded in what parents say they need, and designed in such a way that encourages engagement and usefulness
What commercial applications do you foresee for your research?
My intention is for this reand providing a supportive rent of need
As such, I don’t see commercialisation as the direction of this work
What are some of the biggest challenges you face as a researcher in your field?
At this early stage, as a PhD student, one of my biggest challenges is being able to balance the different parts of the research process, i.e. reading, planning, collecting data, analysing, whilst managing uncertainty and keeping a clear sense of direction
I’m fortunate to have very a supportive supervisor and their guidance making navigating those challenges feel much more manageable
What are some of the areas of research you’d like to see tackled in the years ahead?
Because my project focuses on supporting parents to support their child, the outcomes I measure relate mainly to parents, their confidence, awareness and perception of whether the re
Once complete it would be great to see this expanded on, to bring children into the process of further refining or evolving the resource
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