HEALTHY

In the past five years the team has provided relevant evidences on the early contribution of the social environment and biological factors on youth mental health (cognition, externalizing behaviors, internalizing problems, ADHD and risk for suicide).

Team members have studied the modulation of biological factors by the social environment in relation to externalizing problems and ADHD and the relative contributions of genes and environment on the developmental course of the ADHD phenotype and suicide risk, from the peri-conceptional period to adolescence. Team members have also found that cytokine patterns in the cord blood is associated with childhood anxiety/depression symptoms.

Regarding interventions aiming at improving mental health, cognitive development and social outcomes, the team has shown the benefits of early non-parental care and evidenced the moderate efficacy of a multicomponent early intervention program on behavior, cognition and health, in an Irish sample. Team members have developped eHealth tools to be used for MNS in youths, particularly in students. These findings provide key elements to inform public policies and to tailor our experimental interventions.

Research of team members takes advantages of various cohorts including birth cohorts (ex: ELFE and ELDEQ) and young adult cohorts (iShare and CONFINS).

Our future research works will rely on 3 axes:

• Axis 1 Mental health epidemiology in the youths: understanding the risk and protective factors underlying MNS problems (Cédric Galera).
  The HEALTHY team is particularly interested in quantifying (1) the putatively protective role that psychosocial services plays on the prevention of MNS problems; (2) the impact of MNS problems on individual functioning including educational and professional achievement; and (3) the contribution biological and social mechanisms underlying specific mental health disorders and problems like ADHD, depression, suicidality, pathological low levels of self-esteem, etc.
• Axis 2 Exploring social and behavioral features of mental health in the youths (Ilaria Montagni, Christophe Tzourio).
  This axis will aim at describing and analyzing health behaviors/lifestyle, health representations, and health literacy of young people, relying on sociological and communication approaches (Humanities and Social Sciences) and mixed-methods studies.
• Axis 3 Designing, testing and evaluating interventions preventing MNS problems and promoting mental health in the youths (Cédric Galera, Ilaria Montagni, Christophe Tzourio).
  We will conduct (1) specific interventions focusing on a defined mental health problem or disorder (selective and indicated interventions); and (2) general-population interventions targeting health behaviors, e.g., health literacy, healthy lifestyles, life-skills training, psycho-education (universal interventions).