Championing youth voices in groundbreaking smartphone research

Last month, Place2Be joined forces with Ark Burlington Danes Academy and The Mohn Centre for Children’s Health and Wellbeing at Imperial College London for a pioneering event focused on youth-led research into smartphone use and mental wellbeing. 

Hosted at The Mohn Centre in White City, the visit brought together over 20 Year 12 chemistry students from Ark Burlington Danes Academy, Place2Be’s senior leadership team, and Imperial researchers. The students took part in an interactive three-hour session as part of a new study titled “Swipe Up or Switch Off?”, which explores the impact of smartphones and social media on young people’s mental health. 

The students are now officially recognised as “Community Research Advisors” for Imperial College London. Their insights into smartphone habits, potential interventions, and research design will help shape future studies and inform practical solutions for schools, families, and policymakers. 

Place2Be has worked in partnership with Ark Burlington Danes Academy for over eight years to provide embedded mental health support through a dedicated School Project Manager based on site five days a week. As a strategic partner across the Ark Multi-Academy Trust, Place2Be supports 39 schools with a unified approach to mental health and wellbeing.