Since our launch, BrainWaves has been driven by one clear mission: to transform how we understand and support adolescent mental wellbeing through meaningful research and education. Over the past year, that mission has gained real momentum.

A year of major milestones

The last 12 months have marked a significant period of growth and achievement for BrainWaves. Together with our Research Schools and Colleges, we have already accomplished so much.

Growing our research impact

To date, 24,416 students have taken part in the BrainWaves Cohort Study, an incredible contribution from young people across the country who are helping to shape the future of adolescent mental health research. Their participation is allowing us to build a richer, more comprehensive picture of teenage wellbeing at scale.

Charity status awarded

We are proud to share that BrainWaves has officially been awarded charity status. This milestone reflects the strength of our mission and governance, and enables us to expand our reach, deepen our impact and continue offering free, high-quality resources to schools and colleges nationwide.

Our first cohort study findings published

This year also saw the publication of our first cohort study paper. The BrainWaves study of adolescent wellbeing and mental health: Methods development and pilot data has been published in PLOS One and is now available online.

This proof-of-concept publication represents a major step forward in building a population-level, long-term research resource to better understand the complex landscape of adolescent mental health – and it wouldn’t have been possible without the schools, colleges, teachers and students who partnered with us.

What’s coming up in 2026

We’re excited about what lies ahead and the opportunities for schools and colleges to get involved.

Expanding the BrainWaves Wellbeing Curriculum

Our free wellbeing curriculum continues to grow and evolve. And this January we’ve already added two new lessons, including:

• • Finding Flow (ages 11-14)
  • Building Connections and Friendships (ages 11-14)

These lessons are designed to be practical, evidence-informed and engaging for young people, and many more are already in development for the year ahead.

Next Cohort Study enrolment

The next phase of our Cohort Study is now enrolling schools and colleges for Autumn 2026, with training starting in Summer 2026. We are delighted to be able to offer this year’s study to students aged 11-14 in addition to those aged 16+. This offers another opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research and receive valuable insights into student wellbeing. To find out more about what’s involved, then please get in touch with the BrainWaves Schools Recruitment team via support@brainwaveshub.org.

An exciting summer event

We’re also busy planning a special event this July. This joint conference will be for both academics and teachers interested in adolescent mental health. More details will be shared very soon, but we can already say it’s one not to miss!

Join us on the journey

As we move through 2026, we remain hugely grateful to the BrainWaves community. Together, we are making a meaningful difference to young people’s lives and shaping the future of adolescent mental health research.

Want to get involved?

Contact the BrainWaves School Liaison team at  support@brainwaveshub.org to find out more and start a conversation about becoming a BrainWaves Research School or College.