The Child and Adolescent Mental Health Research Unit focusses its work on prevention and early intervention, trying to answer two key questions: why are some children at particular risk for mental health problems, and what are the best ways to help these children and their families to have the best start in life? 

The research undertaken by the unit covers several key research areas and includes NIHR-funded clinical trials of early psychological interventions, work in child and adolescent depression and groups of children at particular risk, including children with severe physical health problems and refugee and asylum-seeking children.  Please see individual researchers’ pages for more details of specific projects. 

The Unit is a collaboration between Imperial College London and CNWL NHS Foundation Trust. It is based at Hammersmith Hospital. Its main clinical base is at Westminster Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service.