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Dr Charlotte Woodhead

Lecturer in Society & Mental Health

Research interests

  • Mental Health

Biography

Charlotte completed a BSc in Biology & Psychology at Royal Holloway University, then an MRC-funded MSc in Demography & Health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Her MRC/ESRC funded PhD, based in the department of Psychological Medicine at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), was a mixed methods investigation into the mental health of female UK Armed Forces personnel.

She has since worked in post-doctoral research posts at the Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre for two years and then at the NIHR North Thames Collaborations for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care (CLAHRC) University College London (UCL). This included two embedded research posts within Haringey and Redbridge public health teams. She joined the ESRC Centre as a Lecturer in March 2020.

Research

  • Mental health inequalities
  • Urban mental health
  • Young adult mental health
  • Evaluation of complex social interventions
  • Voluntary and community sector
  • Systems thinking
  • Mixed methods research

As a mixed methods researcher, Charlotte's interests are in understanding social/structural determinants of mental ill health at all levels of severity; how and when people’s mental health is influenced by the social world; as well as how and where intervening might have the most positive influence. More specifically, she draws on social science theory and evidence to understand and evaluate complex social interventions with the aim of reducing inequalities in mental health and healthcare, particularly those led by communities affected and by the voluntary and community sector.

Charlotte is also interested in the role of voluntary sector services and community programs in providing, and increasing equity of access to, mental health support for young adults, LGBTQ+, low income and racial and ethnic minority groups.

Teaching

PhD supervision

Charlotte welcomes any students who wish to be supervised in any areas aligned with her research interests, particularly those wanting to further the evidence base around reducing inequalities in mental health and access to support.

Further details

See Charlotte's research profile

    Research

    mental health app_promo
    Mental Health & Society research group

    Seeking to better understand the socio-political dimensions of mental health and illness in the Global North and South.

    Status not set
    mental-health-and-brain-research-must-be-a-higher-priority-in-global-response-to-tackle-covid-19-pandemic-cropped-780x440
    Health Inequalities Research Group

    Health Inequalities Research Group is focused on delivering interdisciplinary research on inequalities in mental health in marginalised communities and across health services with an emphasis on race at the intersection of other social identities.

    Status not set
    tides logo
    Tackling Inequalities and Discrimination Experiences in health Services (TIDES)

    TIDES study investigates how discrimination experienced by both patients and healthcare practitioners may generate and perpetuate inequalities in health service

    Project status: Ongoing

    STEP logo
    The STEP (Schools Training to Enhance support for LGBT+ young People) Study

    The STEP Study investigates what training is available to schools to support LGBT+ young people and how this training can be improved.

    Project status: Ongoing

    SSS Community
    CONtributions of social NETworks to Community Thriving (CONNECT)

    The CONtributions of social NETworks to Community Thriving (CONNECT) Study uses Participatory Action Research to investigate networks and wellbeing.

    Project status: Ongoing

    News

    PRiSM project explores religion, spirituality and mental health in Southeast London faith communities

    The Perspectives on Religion and Spirituality in coping with Mental health (PRiSM) project, aims to understand the role of religion and spirituality in...

    Faith and mental health - a light at the end of the tunnel? illustraton by Federica Ciotti

    Racism embedded in NHS organisational culture and norms prevents progress on healthcare staff inequities

    New research from The Tackling Inequalities and Discrimination Experiences in health Services (TIDES) study team at King’s College London has found addressing...

    nhs commission main

    New King's online course provides free peer and community research training

    The new course, led by the ESRC Centre for Society and Mental Health aims to support and empower people to conduct their own research to initiate positive...

    A woman sits with her laptop by a window.

    Vaccine hesitancy linked to previous experiences of discrimination in healthcare staff

    A new study from researchers at King’s has explored how COVID-19 related inequalities experienced by healthcare professionals from racial and ethnic minority...

    vaccine-confidence

    New podcast explores relationship between societal changes and mental health

    The Centre for Society and Mental Health at King’s College London is hosting a new podcast that will explore how changes in society affect our mental health...

    New podcast explores relationship between societal changes and mental health

    Events

    23NovSTEP study promo image 2

    Improving support for LGBT+ young people in schools and colleges

    Part of the ESRC Fesival of Social Sciences.

    Please note: this event has passed.

    Features

    Improving support for LGBT+ young people in schools and colleges

    Written in observance of LGBT+ History Month, the STEP Study team discuss the importance of LGBT+ support training for school teachers and staff.

    STEP Study promo image 1

    World Mental Health Day 2020 - King's contribution to understanding and treating mental health

    Our world-leading research and community initiatives, together aim to find solutions to some of the challenges faced for people living with mental illness,...

    World Mental Health Day

    Spotlight

    Striving for equity – mental health support for young LGBTQ+ people

    Around one in eight children and young people in the UK have a clinically diagnosable mental health disorder.

    LGBT+ hand

      Research

      mental health app_promo
      Mental Health & Society research group

      Seeking to better understand the socio-political dimensions of mental health and illness in the Global North and South.

      Status not set
      mental-health-and-brain-research-must-be-a-higher-priority-in-global-response-to-tackle-covid-19-pandemic-cropped-780x440
      Health Inequalities Research Group

      Health Inequalities Research Group is focused on delivering interdisciplinary research on inequalities in mental health in marginalised communities and across health services with an emphasis on race at the intersection of other social identities.

      Status not set
      tides logo
      Tackling Inequalities and Discrimination Experiences in health Services (TIDES)

      TIDES study investigates how discrimination experienced by both patients and healthcare practitioners may generate and perpetuate inequalities in health service

      Project status: Ongoing

      STEP logo
      The STEP (Schools Training to Enhance support for LGBT+ young People) Study

      The STEP Study investigates what training is available to schools to support LGBT+ young people and how this training can be improved.

      Project status: Ongoing

      SSS Community
      CONtributions of social NETworks to Community Thriving (CONNECT)

      The CONtributions of social NETworks to Community Thriving (CONNECT) Study uses Participatory Action Research to investigate networks and wellbeing.

      Project status: Ongoing

      News

      PRiSM project explores religion, spirituality and mental health in Southeast London faith communities

      The Perspectives on Religion and Spirituality in coping with Mental health (PRiSM) project, aims to understand the role of religion and spirituality in...

      Faith and mental health - a light at the end of the tunnel? illustraton by Federica Ciotti

      Racism embedded in NHS organisational culture and norms prevents progress on healthcare staff inequities

      New research from The Tackling Inequalities and Discrimination Experiences in health Services (TIDES) study team at King’s College London has found addressing...

      nhs commission main

      New King's online course provides free peer and community research training

      The new course, led by the ESRC Centre for Society and Mental Health aims to support and empower people to conduct their own research to initiate positive...

      A woman sits with her laptop by a window.

      Vaccine hesitancy linked to previous experiences of discrimination in healthcare staff

      A new study from researchers at King’s has explored how COVID-19 related inequalities experienced by healthcare professionals from racial and ethnic minority...

      vaccine-confidence

      New podcast explores relationship between societal changes and mental health

      The Centre for Society and Mental Health at King’s College London is hosting a new podcast that will explore how changes in society affect our mental health...

      New podcast explores relationship between societal changes and mental health

      Events

      23NovSTEP study promo image 2

      Improving support for LGBT+ young people in schools and colleges

      Part of the ESRC Fesival of Social Sciences.

      Please note: this event has passed.

      Features

      Improving support for LGBT+ young people in schools and colleges

      Written in observance of LGBT+ History Month, the STEP Study team discuss the importance of LGBT+ support training for school teachers and staff.

      STEP Study promo image 1

      World Mental Health Day 2020 - King's contribution to understanding and treating mental health

      Our world-leading research and community initiatives, together aim to find solutions to some of the challenges faced for people living with mental illness,...

      World Mental Health Day

      Spotlight

      Striving for equity – mental health support for young LGBTQ+ people

      Around one in eight children and young people in the UK have a clinically diagnosable mental health disorder.

      LGBT+ hand