Cambridge University to establish professorship of young people’s mental health

By Sam Russell, Reporter27th January 2025Education & TrainingCambridgeshire, Education / Training, Learning and Development, Mental Health, Qualifications

Cambridge University is to establish a professorship of young people’s mental health, after a donation of £4.5 million.

Recruitment for the post has begun and the successful candidate will take up the appointment on October 1 this year or as soon as possible thereafter.

The donation was made by philanthropists Christina and Peter Dawson, who were described by the university’s vice-chancellor as “steadfast champions of student mental health”.

Professor Deborah Prentice (pictured) added: “Today’s students face a range of unprecedented challenges, before and during university.

“Our ambition is to promote student wellbeing as a fundamental component of a Cambridge education and to lead research on effective interventions that will improve their lives.

“The Dawson Professorship of Young People’s Mental Health represents a great leap forward towards this goal.”

The post will be based in the Department of Psychology at Cambridge and hold a Fellowship at St Catharine’s College.

The new postholder will spearhead research on interventions, neuroscience and evidence synthesis to provide new insight and pioneering discoveries in mental health treatment and prevention.

The department’s proximity to student support services is intended to facilitate close working with colleagues on the integration of the latest scientific research findings into practical interventions.

Natalie Acton, co-head of student support at Cambridge University, said: “Mental health support for our students should always be based on the most robust research findings.

“So to have a professorship dedicated to mental health research in young people, right here in Cambridge, is simply wonderful.

“We look forward to working with the post-holder and improving our offering to students as a result.”

It is currently estimated that one in five young people in England have a mental health condition, compared with one in eight in 2017, the university said.

Christina Dawson said: “We are thrilled that the university is dedicated to being a centre of excellence in mental health research for young people, and that this professorship will be transformational to this vital area of research.

“Cambridge’s revolutionary approach will reveal insights into the brain science of mental health in young people and increase the global understanding and development of new interventions.

“We couldn’t be more excited to support this initiative with the foundational professorship.”