![Gemma Knowles](/newimages/sspp/GHSM/gemma-knowles-march-2023.x20045be4.jpg?w=540&h=810&crop=540,540,0,135&f=webp)
Dr Gemma Knowles
Lecturer in Epidemiology and Youth Mental Health
Research interests
- Mental Health
Biography
As a Research Fellow at the Centre for Society and Mental Health, Gemma works on the programme of research on social transitions and young people's mental health. Her research focuses on social inequalities in adolescent mental health. She is a big advocate of co-producing knowledge with young people, and tries to weave this into all aspects of her work. Gemma also co-leads the Statistics for Mental Health Research module on the Mental Health Studies MSc at King's IoPPN and loves working with data and learning new methods.
Gemma started out at the University of Birmingham, where she studied for a BSc in Sport and Exercise Science before completing a doctorate in Epidemiology. Her primary area of expertise is conducting large, school-based research studies on physical and mental health. Gemma joined King’s in 2015, having previously worked at Imperial College London as coordinator of a school-based study of cognitive development during adolescence.
Gemma coordinates the Resilience, Ethnicity and AdolesCent mental Health (REACH, www.thereachstudy.com) study, a school-based cohort study of adolescent mental health in inner-city London. REACH is investigating risk and protective factors for mental health among young people from diverse backgrounds. Gemma also coordinates an extensive public engagement programme and advises on several other school-based projects at the Institute.
If you'd like to learn more about REACH and Gemma's work, check out these podcasts or follow her on Twitter (@Gem_K_1):
Research Subject Areas
- Social epidemiology
- Youth mental health
Research Interests
- Social epidemiology
- Youth mental health
- Social injustice
- Longitudinal modelling
- Coproducing research with young people
Teaching
- Statistics for mental health research I
- Statistics for mental health research II
- Society and mental health
Research
![reach-study-crop-cropped-780x440](/newimages/ioppn/news-spotlights/reach-study-crop-cropped-780x440.xeb3f2de4.jpg?width=380&height=215&fit=crop&f=webp)
Resilience, Ethnicity & AdolesCent Mental Health
REACH aims to understand the impact that social circumstances and experiences have on young people’s mental health as they grow up in south London
Project status: Ongoing
![depression-news](/image-library/Press-Photos/depression-news.xd586eddd.jpg?width=380&height=215&fit=crop&f=webp)
Social change, transitions and youth mental health
Investigating whether widespread social changes are linked to the rise in mental health problems among young people.
Project status: Ongoing
![STEP logo](/newimages/ioppn/research/step-logo.x9c4e438b.png?w=780&h=780&crop=780,440,0,170&width=380&height=215&fit=crop&f=webp)
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
![shutterstock_1794345793](/newimages/researchproject/thumb-2021/shutterstock-1794345793.xf2794175.jpeg?w=780&h=520&crop=780,440,0,40&width=380&height=215&fit=crop&f=webp)
Structural and life course determinants of LGBTQ+ health inequalities
Leveraging King’s data and expertise to enhance understanding and move into action.
Project status: Ongoing
![centre-society-mental-health](/ImportedImages/homepageimages/Carousel-Images/centre-society-mental-health.x6f8bc3e0.jpg?w=1501&h=440&crop=780,440,300,0&width=380&height=215&fit=crop&f=webp)
Society and Mental Health Research Group
Our group primarily focuses on how social contexts, interactions and experiences shape the occurrence, outcome, and management of mental health problems.
News
A Mentally Healthier Nation: support from ESRC Centre for Society and Mental Health
The new ‘A Mentally Healthier Nation’ report by the Centre for Mental Health has called for cross-cutting policy to increasing mental health. The report’s...
![People in a Street](/newimages/ioppn/psychology-system-sciences/about/people-in-a-street.x110448f1.jpg?w=1583&h=440&crop=780,440,738,0&f=webp)
REACH team recognised for work improving adolescent mental health
A team of King’s researchers generating new information on the impact of social factors on young people’s mental health has been shortlisted for a Public...
![The REACH team](/image-library/craig-morgan-and-reach-team.x151ae501.jpeg?w=780&h=585&crop=780,440,0,68&f=webp)
Child and adolescent mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic
For Children’s Mental Health Week, we highlight some of IoPPN's research into the impact of COVID-19 on child and adolescent mental health, and potential...
![children-covid](/newimages/folsm/main-article/slcps/children-covid.xc61b5e67.png?f=webp)
Increase in mental distress among young people from disadvantaged backgrounds following the start of the COVID-19 pandemic
New research from ESRC Centre for Society and Mental Health (CSMH) and the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) at King’s College London...
![Teenager](/ImportedImages/Schools/IoP/PressOffice/2014/Teenager.x0e9fd402.jpg?w=780&h=519&crop=780,440,0,40&f=webp)
New policy briefing calls for action to mitigate the impacts of the pandemic on the mental health of young people
Researchers at King’s College London and Oxford University have outlined a series of recommendations to address anticipated short- and long-term challenges...
![Girl at school with mask. Photo by Muneer ahmed ok on Unsplash](/newimages/csmh/rp1/girl-at-school-with-mask.-photo-by-muneer-ahmed-ok-on-unsplash.x0045da6b.jpg?w=784&h=440&crop=780,440,2,0&f=webp)
Researchers work with young people to understand mental health challenges and the impacts of lockdown
In the latest episode of the WORLD: we got this podcast, Dr Gemma Knowles talks about the ground-breaking research being undertaken to understand and support...
![Group of diverse modern teenagers wearing protective masks](/newimages/sspp/GHSM/main/teens-in-masks-illustration.xc6eb3748.jpg?w=780&h=600&crop=780,440,0,80&f=webp)
REACH Study on inner-city London schools highlights need for localised support for youth mental health
Dr Gemma Knowles, Research Associate, and Professor Craig Morgan, Professor of Social Epidemiology, lead the REACH Project, based at the ESRC Centre for...
![Teenagers sitting in a square](/newimages/csmh/rp1-kate-kalvach-unsplash.x566773b4.jpg?w=780&h=520&crop=780,440,0,40&f=webp)
REACH study to investigate the impact of COVID-19 on mental health in young people
An existing King’s College London project that is researching the mental health of young people from diverse backgrounds and inner-city areas will be...
![REACH study to investigate the impact of COVID-19 on mental health in young people](/newimages/ioppn/news-spotlights/reach-study-crop-cropped-780x440.xeb3f2de4.jpg?f=webp)
Events
![Denmark Hill campus sign](/image-library/denmark-hill-campus-sign780x520.x23f23654.jpg?crop=780,440,0,40&f=webp)
Demystifying Impact
This event is an opportunity to hear from others on their journey toward research impact, with sessions on how to maximise your own impact.
Please note: this event has passed.
![REACH study crop](/newimages/ioppn/news-spotlights/reach-study-crop.x6a13f021.jpg?w=780&h=474&crop=780,440,0,17&f=webp)
Young voices: a collaborative event sharing findings from the REACH study
The REACH study presents key emerging findings in a collaborative event co-produced by young people.
Please note: this event has passed.
Features
Pandemic impacts on mental health of young people: the REACH study
The REACH Study have published a series of reports on the impact of Covid-19 on adolescent mental health.
![Young people attending the REACH Festival.](/newimages/hero/hero-feature/2020/000073060006-1-orig.x85d588f8.jpg?crop=1903,558,0,352&f=webp)
How has COVID-19 impacted children and young people?
Since children and adolescents were considered a low health risk, they were far from a priority in the early stages of the pandemic. But with the disruption...
![Untitled (780 × 440 px) (1903 × 558 px) (1)](/newimages/hero/hero-feature/2020/untitled-780-440-px-1903-558-px-1.x574106d4.png?w=1903&h=558&f=webp)
Youth Mental Health and Covid-19: How can we build back fairer?
In 2021, a Policy Lab was held as the culminating event of a jointly run conference exploring the impacts of COVID-19 and related responses on the mental...
![policy briefing 3](/newimages/csmh/research-highlights/policy-briefing-3.x569c4289.png?f=webp)
Research
![reach-study-crop-cropped-780x440](/newimages/ioppn/news-spotlights/reach-study-crop-cropped-780x440.xeb3f2de4.jpg?width=380&height=215&fit=crop&f=webp)
Resilience, Ethnicity & AdolesCent Mental Health
REACH aims to understand the impact that social circumstances and experiences have on young people’s mental health as they grow up in south London
Project status: Ongoing
![depression-news](/image-library/Press-Photos/depression-news.xd586eddd.jpg?width=380&height=215&fit=crop&f=webp)
Social change, transitions and youth mental health
Investigating whether widespread social changes are linked to the rise in mental health problems among young people.
Project status: Ongoing
![STEP logo](/newimages/ioppn/research/step-logo.x9c4e438b.png?w=780&h=780&crop=780,440,0,170&width=380&height=215&fit=crop&f=webp)
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
![shutterstock_1794345793](/newimages/researchproject/thumb-2021/shutterstock-1794345793.xf2794175.jpeg?w=780&h=520&crop=780,440,0,40&width=380&height=215&fit=crop&f=webp)
Structural and life course determinants of LGBTQ+ health inequalities
Leveraging King’s data and expertise to enhance understanding and move into action.
Project status: Ongoing
![centre-society-mental-health](/ImportedImages/homepageimages/Carousel-Images/centre-society-mental-health.x6f8bc3e0.jpg?w=1501&h=440&crop=780,440,300,0&width=380&height=215&fit=crop&f=webp)
Society and Mental Health Research Group
Our group primarily focuses on how social contexts, interactions and experiences shape the occurrence, outcome, and management of mental health problems.
News
A Mentally Healthier Nation: support from ESRC Centre for Society and Mental Health
The new ‘A Mentally Healthier Nation’ report by the Centre for Mental Health has called for cross-cutting policy to increasing mental health. The report’s...
![People in a Street](/newimages/ioppn/psychology-system-sciences/about/people-in-a-street.x110448f1.jpg?w=1583&h=440&crop=780,440,738,0&f=webp)
REACH team recognised for work improving adolescent mental health
A team of King’s researchers generating new information on the impact of social factors on young people’s mental health has been shortlisted for a Public...
![The REACH team](/image-library/craig-morgan-and-reach-team.x151ae501.jpeg?w=780&h=585&crop=780,440,0,68&f=webp)
Child and adolescent mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic
For Children’s Mental Health Week, we highlight some of IoPPN's research into the impact of COVID-19 on child and adolescent mental health, and potential...
![children-covid](/newimages/folsm/main-article/slcps/children-covid.xc61b5e67.png?f=webp)
Increase in mental distress among young people from disadvantaged backgrounds following the start of the COVID-19 pandemic
New research from ESRC Centre for Society and Mental Health (CSMH) and the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) at King’s College London...
![Teenager](/ImportedImages/Schools/IoP/PressOffice/2014/Teenager.x0e9fd402.jpg?w=780&h=519&crop=780,440,0,40&f=webp)
New policy briefing calls for action to mitigate the impacts of the pandemic on the mental health of young people
Researchers at King’s College London and Oxford University have outlined a series of recommendations to address anticipated short- and long-term challenges...
![Girl at school with mask. Photo by Muneer ahmed ok on Unsplash](/newimages/csmh/rp1/girl-at-school-with-mask.-photo-by-muneer-ahmed-ok-on-unsplash.x0045da6b.jpg?w=784&h=440&crop=780,440,2,0&f=webp)
Researchers work with young people to understand mental health challenges and the impacts of lockdown
In the latest episode of the WORLD: we got this podcast, Dr Gemma Knowles talks about the ground-breaking research being undertaken to understand and support...
![Group of diverse modern teenagers wearing protective masks](/newimages/sspp/GHSM/main/teens-in-masks-illustration.xc6eb3748.jpg?w=780&h=600&crop=780,440,0,80&f=webp)
REACH Study on inner-city London schools highlights need for localised support for youth mental health
Dr Gemma Knowles, Research Associate, and Professor Craig Morgan, Professor of Social Epidemiology, lead the REACH Project, based at the ESRC Centre for...
![Teenagers sitting in a square](/newimages/csmh/rp1-kate-kalvach-unsplash.x566773b4.jpg?w=780&h=520&crop=780,440,0,40&f=webp)
REACH study to investigate the impact of COVID-19 on mental health in young people
An existing King’s College London project that is researching the mental health of young people from diverse backgrounds and inner-city areas will be...
![REACH study to investigate the impact of COVID-19 on mental health in young people](/newimages/ioppn/news-spotlights/reach-study-crop-cropped-780x440.xeb3f2de4.jpg?f=webp)
Events
![Denmark Hill campus sign](/image-library/denmark-hill-campus-sign780x520.x23f23654.jpg?crop=780,440,0,40&f=webp)
Demystifying Impact
This event is an opportunity to hear from others on their journey toward research impact, with sessions on how to maximise your own impact.
Please note: this event has passed.
![REACH study crop](/newimages/ioppn/news-spotlights/reach-study-crop.x6a13f021.jpg?w=780&h=474&crop=780,440,0,17&f=webp)
Young voices: a collaborative event sharing findings from the REACH study
The REACH study presents key emerging findings in a collaborative event co-produced by young people.
Please note: this event has passed.
Features
Pandemic impacts on mental health of young people: the REACH study
The REACH Study have published a series of reports on the impact of Covid-19 on adolescent mental health.
![Young people attending the REACH Festival.](/newimages/hero/hero-feature/2020/000073060006-1-orig.x85d588f8.jpg?crop=1903,558,0,352&f=webp)
How has COVID-19 impacted children and young people?
Since children and adolescents were considered a low health risk, they were far from a priority in the early stages of the pandemic. But with the disruption...
![Untitled (780 × 440 px) (1903 × 558 px) (1)](/newimages/hero/hero-feature/2020/untitled-780-440-px-1903-558-px-1.x574106d4.png?w=1903&h=558&f=webp)
Youth Mental Health and Covid-19: How can we build back fairer?
In 2021, a Policy Lab was held as the culminating event of a jointly run conference exploring the impacts of COVID-19 and related responses on the mental...
![policy briefing 3](/newimages/csmh/research-highlights/policy-briefing-3.x569c4289.png?f=webp)