Dr Helen Eke

I am a Research Fellow undertaking work on Green Social Prescibing for the European Centre for Environment and Human Health (ECEHH). The project, funded by Defra, is a preparatory and feasibility study for a definitive experimental trial, process evaluation, and assessment of cost effectveness/utility of a green social prescibing pathway. The project is part of a wider collaboration with the national, cross departmental Tackling and Preventing Mental Ill Health through Green Prescibing initiative.

Through an NIHR Three Schools Prevention Programme Research Development Grant, I am also leading a project exploring the role of nature-based education in preventing the emergence of mental health problems in neurodivergent adolescents. The project will involve a scoping review to provide an overview of the field, and the collaboration of academic, professional and formalised PPIE groups to develop a programme theory that will form the basis for a larger programme grant application in 2025.

Previous to this role I have worked on a number of other projects within the Medical School;

Postdoctoral Research Fellow on the NIHR South West Peninsula Applied Research Collaboration (PenARC) Child Health and Maternity Programme. The programme was a three year programme of research which aimed to find effective ways to implement evidence-based interventions to improve children’s and maternity services widely across England by supporting four implementation studies. My role involved developing a programme level evaluation, to understand the key implementation strategies employed across the four studies to aid effective implementation.

Postdoctoral Research Fellow on the Improving Continence for Children and Young People with Neurodisability (ICoN) project. The aim of the project was to summarise the available evidence for interventions relating to improving continence for children and young people with neurodisability. The study used a survey to investigate current NHS practice, and conducted a systematic review of the effectiveness, cost-effectiveness and contextual factors that modify implementation of interventions.

Associate Research Fellow and PhD student on the Children and adolescents with ADHD in transition between children’s services and adult services (CATCh-uS) study. The project focused on what happens to young people with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) when they are too old to stay within children’s services.

I have also worked as a Coordinator on the Healthy Lifestyles Programme (HeLP) and an Associate Research Fellow on the Helping Children Achieve (HCA) study.

Qualifications:

PhD Medical Studies (University of Exeter) 2019

MA Child Welfare and Applied Childhood Studies (University of Wales, Swansea) 2008

BA (hons) Applied Sports Science and Coaching with Education Studies (University of Exeter) 2006