Mental health support for young people
Dr Michael Crossland | GR001499
18 July 2023
We’re funding a PhD studentship involved in important research by Dr Michael Crossland, examining the impact of inherited macular disease on wellbeing and mental health with aims to develop a tailored package to help young people who may need support.
The challenge
Sight loss can have a significant emotional and psychological impact on people’s lives. Mental health issues have been well-documented in adults with sight loss.
However, little is known about the wellbeing of young people who have been recently diagnosed with, or are living with, vision loss.
50%
adults with vision impairment have signs of clinical depression, anxiety and PTSD, which is greatly elevated relative to the general population.
1 in 6
young people in England (aged 5-16) experienced a mental health problem in 2020. (NHS Digital 2020 - Wave 1)
Finding a solution
Dr Crossland, optometrist at Moorfields Eye Hospital and senior research fellow at the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, is working with a multidisciplinary team including psychologists, a psychotherapist, ophthalmologists, a paediatrician, a specialist teacher and the parent of a young person with inherited macular disease.
What is macular disease?
Learn more
Various painless conditions that impact the central retina, known as the macula, located at the rear of the eye, fall under the term ‘macular disease’. These conditions differ in terms of their frequency, underlying causes, and available treatment.
The spectrum of macular diseases includes:
- Stargardt disease
- Vitelliform macular dystrophy and Best disease
- Central serous chorioretinopathy
- Epiretinal membrane (macular pucker)
- Macular hole
- Macular telangiectasia
- Myopic macular degeneration
- Retinal detachment
- Retinitis pigmentosa
- Retinal vein occlusion
- Vitreomacular traction syndrome
- Posteriour vitreous detachment (PVD) with floaters
Alongside the team, the PhD student is investigating the impact of vision loss on wellbeing, participation, social connectedness, quality of life, depression and anxiety.
Working with young people and their parents and carers, they’re determining what type of support will be required to maximise wellbeing and mental health in these people.
The potential
The aim of this study is to create a useful package of support developed by service-users which will improve patients’ wellbeing.
Project Details
PhD studentship
Dr Michael Crossland
Paediatrics, patient experience
£93,388
September 2023
GR001499
