Schools and colleges invited to take part in the OxWell student survey on youth mental health

Young people in Oxfordshire are being encouraged to take part in this year’s OxWell 2025 student survey.

In partnership with the University of Oxford, Oxfordshire County Council’s public health team is calling on school and colleges to sign up to the project, which enables partners to better understand young people’s mental health and wellbeing and helps shape future support.

Open to children and young people aged nine to 18, it is a 15 minute anonymous questionnaire completed during the school day.

It asks students about their mental health and emotional wellbeing (including their sleep patterns) and their experiences with social media and bullying, school support and access to services.

Councillor Dr Nathan Ley, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Health Inequalities and Safety, said: “By gathering insights directly from young people, the survey ensures their voices are put at the heart of efforts to improve their mental health.

“As well as allowing Oxfordshire schools and colleges to learn about and respond to their students’ needs, the data gathered will also inform broader national research on youth mental health trends.”

Schools and colleges can sign up to take part for free by visiting the OxWell 2025 sign-up portal. The survey will run until 24 March 2025.

Professor Mina Fazel, Chair of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the University of Oxford, who leads the research, said: “Not only does this survey give us valuable insights into young people’s lives, but we are also committed to translating those findings into practical measures and plans that improve their mental health and wellbeing. That’s why the more children we get taking part, the better the picture we get of what is happening in their lives and minds, and what their priorities are.”

The last survey, undertaken in 2023, provided critical insights into issues affecting the county’s children and young people, such as self-harm, loneliness, vaping and safety. The findings helped schools and local authority to create targeted interventions to directly benefit students, including mental health strategies, anti-bullying policies and student well-being initiatives.

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