My current work relates to exploring the role of neighbourhoods in shaping children and young people’s physical and mental health, with a particular focus on the impact of deprivation. Specifically, I investigate how deprivation modifies the level of exposure to urban factors such as air pollution and access to greenspace, and how it leads to health inequalities during childhood and later in life. pinpoint inequalities and help create healthy and equal places for every child. In one of my recent portugal rcs data works, I present a tool to characterize exposure to multiple urban environment features, including air pollution, access to public greenspace, food environment, and road safety within 400-meter (5–10 minute walking distance) of 2,929 schools in Greater London. Socioeconomic and ethnicity disparities were observed in relation to exposure to the aforementioned urban factors.
Future plans
My research will be more focused on investigating the pattern of mental health issue among children and young people across the UK, as well as identifying the contributing and protective factors in an urban setting. I hope to use my UK Data Service Data Impact Fellowship to contribute to shaping policies and practices aimed at addressing mental health and inequalities in the UK. Additionally, I would like to host a seminar to bring together researchers from multiple disciplines to discuss the advances and challenges in the area of child mental health in the UK and collaborate on high-impact research.