Projects
I've worked on a range of research projects that aim to understand human behavior and mental health. These projects have primarily focused on online safety, self-harm, and youth aggression. You can find out more about these projects below. If you have any questions or are interested in collaborating, feel free to reach out.
The Online Harms National Survey
The Online Harms National Survey explored user experiences of engaging with self-harm and suicide content on social media platforms and internet forums. We conducted a large-scale online survey with 700+ users to explore the nature, functions, and impact of suicide and self-harm related internet use. We also investigated user experiences of suspension and content removal among those who posted about self-harm and suicide. The findings directly informed the Samaritans industry guidelines, online safety resources, and policy campaigns. We're currently writing up our findings to submit to academic journals.
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Collaborators: Samaritans, Middlesex University, Birmingham University, Canterbury Christ Church University
The DELVE Study
The DELVE study explored user experiences of engaging with self-harm and suicide online content over a six month period. We conducted one-to-one interviews with 14 participants at three time points to examine stability and change in their online behavior over time, as well as digital ethnographic methods. We also examined user experiences of moderation on social media platforms and internet forums. The findings informed the Samaritans Online Excellence Programme and they have been published in the Journal for Medical Internet Research.
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Collaborators: Samaritans and Bristol University
Platform messaging around self-harm and suicide
This project examined user responses to platform messaging around self-harm and suicide. We conducted six focus groups with people who had lived experience of self-harm or suicide, and explored their feedback on community guidelines and platform messaging around reporting, content removal, and suspension. Following this project, I developed and presented recommendations for improving product experiences around self-harm and suicide to a live audience of 230+ including industry leaders from Google, Meta, and TikTok. The findings were also used to update the Samaritans industry guidelines.
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Collaborators: Samaritans and MEL Research
Online help-seeking and self-harm
This project examines online help-seeking among adolescents who self-harm. Using longitudinal survey data from the Resilience, Ethnicity, and AdolesCent Mental Health (REACH) study, I’m exploring the factors that are associated with online help-seeking among young people who self-harm. I’m also investigating how online help-seeking influences future levels of mental distress. The findings from this project will be shared with nonprofits, industry leaders, and practitioners to inform digital safety initiatives.
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Collaborators: King's College London
Typologies of adolescent self-harm
I was awarded an IOPPN Early Career Research award to investigate typologies of adolescents who self-harm to facilitate early intervention. Using longitudinal survey data from the Resilience, Ethnicity, and AdolesCent Mental Health (REACH) study, I’m using latent class analysis to identify subgroups of adolescents who self-harm and display similar risk profiles. I’m also conducting workshops with lived experience advisors to ensure the insights from the project are relevant and meaningful for young people.
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Funding: IOPPN Early Career Research Award, King's College London
Evaluating Kailo
Kailo is a £5m UKPRP-funded programme that is designed to improve adolescent mental health by focusing on the social determinants. I led a multi-site team to design the evaluation protocol and produced an internal report synthesising insights from 150+ hours of observations, 20+ stakeholder interviews, and document analyses to inform scalable changes to the Kailo programme.
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Collaborators: UCL and Exeter University
The PEERS Study
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The PEERS study was a multi-method research project that aimed to investigate peer influences on aggressive behavior. I designed and led all aspects of this project including a survey with over 400 adolescents across six schools and follow-up interviews with 90 participants. I presented the findings at five conferences and published the insights in Deviant Behavior and the European Journal of Criminology. Following this project, I was awarded the Nigel Walker Prize (2024) for an outstanding contribution to criminology. I was also awarded the European Society of Criminology's Young Criminologist Award (2024).
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Funding: ESRC Doctoral Studentship, University of Cambridge