In this special episode for Mental Health Awareness Week, host Siobhan Morris is joined by UCL academics Patrizia Pezzoli and Rochelle Burgess to discuss an innovative project focused on promoting safe adolescent relationships and tackling intimate partner violence (IPV) among young people.

With research showing that nearly half of teenagers in romantic relationships have experienced violent or controlling behaviours, the project explores the mental health impacts of IPV through a cross-disciplinary, co-produced approach.

The episode highlights the importance of involving young people in the research process and, in keeping with this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week theme of Action, reflects on the potential long-term impact this vital work could have on young people’s lives.

Featured in this episode:

Presenter: Siobhan Morris

Guests: Dr Patrizia Pezzoli & Professor Rochelle Burgess

Producer: Annabelle Buckland

For more information about UCL Grand Challenges and our ongoing efforts, please visit UCL Grand Challenges.

Disruptive Voices is proudly produced by Decibelle Creative / @decibelle_creative

In this episode, host Jade Hunter delves into Grand Challenges-funded project, Visible CoSpace Study - a youth-led, co-produced study aimed at addressing the health inequalities faced by young people from marginalised communities.

Joined by project co-leads Dr Keri Wong and Dr Lusi Morhayim, the discussion uncovers the critical role of youth clubs and community spaces in supporting the mental health and wellbeing of 14 to 25-year-olds. As they explore the impact of reduced funding and the closure of youth clubs across the UK, the conversation highlights the insights gained from interviews with young people and community youth workers, revealing how these spaces serve as essential safe havens for vulnerable youth.

This episode also examines how the project's findings are influencing policy discussions around youth wellbeing and the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in research.

In this episode, host Jade Hunter is joined by UCL Professor of Anthropology, Jo Cook, to explore AnthropoloJOY, an ambitious project examining how joy is experienced, expressed and understood across different cultures. AnthropoloJOY is the first long-term qualitative research project of its kind, investigating what joy means in the UK and beyond. Professor Cook shares how the absence of joy during the COVID-19 pandemic prompted the project’s creation, and why it’s time to rethink the way we talk about human emotions. The episode explores the project’s innovative research methods, including: participant observation, micro-phenomenological interviews, and photovoice. Together, these approaches aim to deepen our understanding of joy’s role in strengthening resilience, connection and wellbeing.

Featured in this episode:
Presenter: Jade Hunter;
Guest: Professor Joanna Cook;
Producer: Decibelle Creative