iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Dr Rebecca Johnson @researching-reb.bsky.social · 28/05/2026

Are you a current university student aged 18+? Have you ever asked an AI tool for wellbeing advice? E.g., asked it questions about or for information on your own wellbeing? We'd love to chat! Fraser is funded by the Carnegie Vacation Scholarship and supervised by me! 📚 🤓 @frasercarey.bsky.social

A yellow white and blue poster advertising a study. 'We are looking for participants' is at the top. Have you ever engaged with an AI-Based wellbeing application (e.g., Chat GPT). University Students (18+) are invited to take part in a 45-60 minute interview.

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Anna Freud @annafreudcharity.bsky.social · 11/05/2026

Around every 20 seconds, a referral is made for a child or young person to access mental health services in England. That's about 4,000 referrals every day. (Darzi, 2024)

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Dr Rebecca Johnson @researching-reb.bsky.social · 09/05/2026

The gentle pleasures in life are so important amidst such a chaotic landscape these days. A slow Saturday morning, a good cup of tea or coffee, reading, the smell of my favourite incense or candle, fresh £5 local flowers, a walk with my dog when the sun is out in Scotland. Cherish the glimmers.

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Katherine Twamley @ktwamley.bsky.social · 01/05/2026

We are looking for a short-term full time researcher to work with us on a pilot study in preparation for a longitudinal qualitative study with parents of young children. **Deadline 14th May** More details here www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/... @sriucl.bsky.social @britsoci.bsky.social

ucl.ac.uk

UCL – University College London

UCL is consistently ranked as one of the top ten universities in the world (QS World University Rankings 2010-2022) and is No.2 in the UK for research power (Research Excellence Framework 2021).

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Dr Rebecca Johnson @researching-reb.bsky.social · 25/04/2026

I’m so excited for this I could scream

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Dr Rebecca Johnson @researching-reb.bsky.social · 23/04/2026

My reading highlights of the year so far. I have read 24 books in the last 4 months and these are the ones I most recommend.

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Dr Lucy Foulkes @lucyfoulkes.bsky.social · 16/04/2026

🌟 NEW PRE-PRINT! 🌟 “It seems that everyone has got something”: A qualitative study of adolescents’ attitudes towards self-diagnosing with mental health problems from me and @nhigsonsweeney.bsky.social osf.io/preprints/ps...

AbstractBackground:There is growing concern about adolescents self-diagnosing with mental health problems, with potential links to increased mental health awareness efforts and social media. However, little is known about adolescents’ attitudes towards self-diagnosis, including why they think it happensand potential consequences.Methods:We conducted online semi-structured interviews with 24 UK school-aged adolescents (13-to 17-years-old)recruited from four schools. Data wasanalysed using reflexive thematic analysis.Results:Four themes were generated. Acceptable versus unacceptable motives for self-diagnosishighlights the different reasons adolescents perceived to driveself-diagnosis, which were given a value judgement. Self-diagnosis was more acceptable when carefully researched and used for self-understanding or help-seeking, andless acceptable when used superficially to seek attention or excuse bad behaviour. Rules for determining (in)authenticityexplores the implicit criteria adolescents set for judging the credibility of someone’s self-diagnosis, including openness, severity, and gender. Self-diagnosis is the only viable route to supportencompasses adolescents’ belief that self-diagnosis is understandable given the current inaccessibilityof healthcare systems, providingaccess to informal sources of emotional, practical, and social support. Finally, modern adolescence is fertile ground for self-diagnosisdiscusses how the current context of adolescence, including social media and the widespread use of diagnostic language, facilitates self-diagnosis. Conclusions:School-aged adolescents view self-diagnosis as an understandable yet potentially problematic practice. While it may be a pragmatic response to inaccessible services, adolescents are concerned about the impact of inaccuracy. Improving access to timely mental health support and promoting balanced information may reduce reliance on self-diagnosis

Note: This version of the article is a pre-print and has not been peer-reviewed.
Title:"It seems that everyone has got something”: A qualitative studyof adolescents’ attitudes towardsself-diagnosing withmental health problems
Nina Higson-Sweeney1* & Lucy Foulkes1
Affiliations:1Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Life and Mind Building, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3EL, UK*Corresponding author: Dr Nina Higson-Sweeney, nina.higson-sweeney@psy.ox.ac.uk

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Dr Rebecca Johnson @researching-reb.bsky.social · 23/04/2026

I just bloody love to see people doing well. Post about your successes! Tell me about them! I want to hear them all. Let’s celebrate each other in these dark and trying times. Big or small I want to know about it.

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Dr Rebecca Johnson @researching-reb.bsky.social · 02/04/2026

Gorgeous time hosting the first alumni event in the Psychology Department last night! @glasgowcaledonian.bsky.social An evening of connection, honesty, and radical kindness when it comes to next steps. An honour to host events I loved when I was an undergraduate.

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Dr Rebecca Johnson @researching-reb.bsky.social · 30/03/2026

Saying that Twitter is truly a hellscape now. I can't even call it X. It's too awful. The definition of 'you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone'.

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Dr Rebecca Johnson @researching-reb.bsky.social · 30/03/2026

I have been reflecting recently on how easily and often I used to use Twitter when I was slightly younger (say, 20-24ish). Having not used this form of social media for a while now, I find it quite difficult to just casually post shortform thoughts. Despite how much I miss the interactions.

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Dr Rebecca Johnson @researching-reb.bsky.social · 07/01/2026

Looking for advice Has anyone needed international police clearance for a role and faced barriers due to not being a resident or citizen? A friend has an offer but can’t obtain a Canadian police check despite using all official routes. Any insight on how this can be resolved would be appreciated.

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Dr Rebecca Johnson @researching-reb.bsky.social · 20/10/2025

Increasingly aware of how the structures of adult life, namely overwork, routine, and instrumental rationality, truly do erode one’s sense of whimsy. Trying to make a deliberate, almost methodological effort to reintroduce small, daily acts of joy. A minor rebellion against creeping disenchantment.

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Aidan McGlynn @aidanmcglynn.bsky.social · 21/06/2025

Hot-tip: when someone asks you for your number, give them your OrcID

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Dr Rebecca Johnson @researching-reb.bsky.social · 09/10/2025

Bluesky #youthinvolvement people! I am seeking young people (aged 10–24) to share their experiences as collaborators in health research for an upcoming book project. Participation can take part via chat, workshop, or writing (€20–25 voucher). Link to express interest: tinyurl.com/youthinhealt...

A visually bright poster that asks if you have ever been involved (or tried to be involved) in health research as a contributor? It asks if you want to be involved in providing feedback on an upcoming book, and outlines that participation requires you to be aged 10-24, speak english and have access to the internet. It outlines that taking part can involve a 1-1 chat, a group workshop or written feedback. The email to get involved is ResearchInvolvement.KH@outlook.com

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Dr Rebecca Johnson @researching-reb.bsky.social · 07/10/2025

One of life’s simple pleasures for me is the ability for the general public to overcome the societal norms of sitting silently, to come together to moan about public transport together, or any other inconveniences. Just had a brilliant 15 minute rant about Glasgow roadworks. Ah, community!

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Dr Rebecca Johnson @researching-reb.bsky.social · 06/10/2025

I adore working our open days @glasgowcaledonian.bsky.social! Meeting prospective students and talking about the opportunities and avenues that exist in psychology makes me so excited to do what I do ❤️‍🔥

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Dr Rebecca Johnson @researching-reb.bsky.social · 26/08/2025

My doctoral thesis is finally published! If you are a researcher interested in #mentalhealthstigma #participatoryresearch then it may be of interest to you. Using participatory research methods we designed a model and measurement tool to capture youth mental health stigma experiences!

doi.org

Development of the Youth Stigma Experiences Scale (YSES): A Participatory Mixed Methods Exploration of Youth Mental Health Stigma

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Dr Rebecca Johnson @researching-reb.bsky.social · 17/06/2025

Just finished collaboratively writing our first journal article with my co-researchers, really excited to start sharing some of the findings from our participatory research on youth mental health stigma!

media.tenor.com

a woman is sitting at a table with a laptop and making a funny face ..

ALT: a woman is sitting at a table with a laptop and making a funny face ..

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Dr Rebecca Johnson @researching-reb.bsky.social · 01/04/2025

How do you shake off a grumpy day? You know one of those days where everything is irritating you, you want to throw things, dropping a pen can send you round the bend. Any advice? I still have half a day to go and I feel if I stay this highly strung something bad is bound to happen.

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Dr Rebecca Johnson @researching-reb.bsky.social · 27/03/2025

I concluded by reading my thesis dedication aloud, even though they’ve all read it! Not a dry eye in the house. Including young people in research has so many incredible and transformational impacts. #youthworkchangeslives

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Dr Rebecca Johnson @researching-reb.bsky.social · 27/03/2025

Just had a two hour session with my young co-researchers to do a recap and refresh on our journey through participatory research. Whole session ended in tears. I am simply blown away by the level of commitment dedication, and resilience our team has had in our 4 year journey.

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Dr Rebecca Johnson @researching-reb.bsky.social · 26/03/2025

Had a wonderfully encouraging meeting with Routledge and my co-researchers yesterday! We are currently writing a proposal for a dual perspective book, written from the perspective of ECR lead researcher and young co-researchers on the involvement of young people across a research project.

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Dr Rebecca Johnson @researching-reb.bsky.social · 20/03/2025

Absolutely loving our @glasgowcaledonian.bsky.social Psychology Empirical Conference today! Hearing our students present their research, share in each others journey and come together as a department to celebrate all of our final students hard work!

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Dr Lucy Foulkes @lucyfoulkes.bsky.social · 19/03/2025

🚨NEW PAPER from my group: Scoping review of potential harm from group-based CBT and mindfulness interventions in schools Our research question was essentially this: How often do school mental health interventions make things worse? acamh.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/... (thread)

Scoping review: potential harm from school-based group mental health interventions
Carolina Guzman-Holst, Rowan Streckfuss Davis, Jack L. Andrews, Lucy Foulkes

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Dr Rebecca Johnson @researching-reb.bsky.social · 16/03/2025

Just finished the new Split Fiction game from @hazelightgames.bsky.social and let me tell you, it was WORTH the 4 year wait from It Takes Two. You best believe I am buckling in for the next 4 year wait. What a delightful blend of incredible gameplay and beautiful storytelling. LOVED IT!!

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Stickman Communications @stickmancomms.bsky.social · 20/02/2025

1/5 Some recent conversations bought home to me how important this #Disability concept is. When someone doesn't understand why I've said I can't - and just assumes I'm wrong - it is heartbreaking, devaluing, gaslighting, bewildering, and often gives me no way forward. Unfortunately a lot of -

This ‘No for a reason’ card says:
"When I say no, it’s because I’ve considered the options and consequences.
Please respect my decision. If you don’t understand it, there may be factors you aren’t fully aware of."

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Dr Rebecca Johnson @researching-reb.bsky.social · 19/02/2025

Just finished up a session of first year thematic analysis poster presentations. I always absolutely love seeing students present their work and evidencing that they have really grasped the key concepts and started to recognise the potential of qualitative research, yay! 🎉

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Dr Rebecca Johnson @researching-reb.bsky.social · 18/02/2025

Thoroughly loved this thread. This is a concept I am trying to teach undergrads. I can’t wait to incorporate this into my teaching.

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Dr Lucy Foulkes @lucyfoulkes.bsky.social · 05/02/2025

NEW PAPER: What do teenage girls think is causing the rise in depression & anxiety in their demographic? I was struck, during the analysis, about how often 'pressure' came up. Girls are under so much pressure to look and behave in certain ways 😔 Well done to Ola on her thoughtful leadership here

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Dr Rebecca Johnson @researching-reb.bsky.social · 21/01/2025

I have been thinking a lot recently about effort and convenience. I have noticed that we seem to be in the age of convenience, where anything that isn’t speedy and optimised is deemed inefficient and ‘a drag’. But this is our one life. Some important things require effort and time, not efficiency!

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Dr Rebecca Johnson @researching-reb.bsky.social · 20/01/2025

Is it just me, or is a lot of academia just trying to figure out what the hell is going on. Like honestly. From institutional structures, procedures and unspoken expectations to funding, publishing and more. It feels so unnecessarily complicated and inaccessible half the time.

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Petrana 冰冰 Radulovic (she/her) @petrana.bsky.social · 20/01/2025

Poetry Foundation not fucking around with today's poem of the day www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/89897/...

A screenshot of Maggie Smith's "Good Bones"
Life is short, though I keep this from my children.
Life is short, and I’ve shortened mine
in a thousand delicious, ill-advised ways,
a thousand deliciously ill-advised ways
I’ll keep from my children. The world is at least
fifty percent terrible, and that’s a conservative
estimate, though I keep this from my children.
For every bird there is a stone thrown at a bird.
For every loved child, a child broken, bagged,
sunk in a lake. Life is short and the world
is at least half terrible, and for every kind
stranger, there is one who would break you,
though I keep this from my children. I am trying
to sell them the world. Any decent realtor,
walking you through a real shithole, chirps on
about good bones: This place could be beautiful,
right? You could make this place beautiful.

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Bezel Vercex, a sentient lichen 🍉 @bezelvercex.bsky.social · 11/01/2025

I think excessive focus on #self-care is another way #capitalism turns us into consumers and distracts from the #community building and community care we really need. It keeps us fragmented, atomized, and self-focused. Those practices are good, but #communitycare doesn't get enough airplay.

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Dr Rebecca Johnson @researching-reb.bsky.social · 10/01/2025

Does anyone have experience of seeking funding for community members conference attendance? I have three young co-researchers and we are always astonished by how quickly prices rack up for conference attendance, which often prohibits us attending #participatoryresearch #PPI #youthinvolvement

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Dr Rebecca Johnson @researching-reb.bsky.social · 09/01/2025

Does anyone know of any #participatoryresearchmethods or #participatoryresearch related conferences or networks that are active? Looking for opportunities to share our research findings on #youth #mentalhealth #stigma experiences, and the lived experience expertise involved throughout the process.

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Dr Rebecca Johnson @researching-reb.bsky.social · 07/01/2025

I’m just really really bored of hearing adults speak about youth issues when they haven’t worked with or listened to young people.

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Lisa Bortolotti @lisabortolotti.com · 13/12/2024

Really enjoyed this book and this passage made me think of the importance of validation in youth mental health

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Louca-Mai Brady @louca-mai.bsky.social · 12/12/2024

I am most definitely fore/forswunk. Roll on the holidays

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Dr Rebecca Johnson @researching-reb.bsky.social · 11/12/2024

I've never seen anything that screams 'I cannot see beyond my own privilege' more. Sometimes it is so blatantly obvious that an individual has never had the ability to envision another perspective or to empathise. Disturbingly, a lack of empathy seems to be a good thing these days.

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Dawn Richards, PhD @dawnrichards.bsky.social · 10/12/2024

#PatientEngagement in basic science. A mini 🧵. Talked to a scientist who said patients could in no way contribute to their lab work. I asked if the trainees in their lab had ever met a person living with the condition they're studying or had only read about the experience in a text book. /1

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Dr Rebecca Johnson @researching-reb.bsky.social · 10/12/2024

In our digital psychology module we critically consider the fact that chatGPT doesn’t know what truth or reality is. Our students are always so amazed. It’s very scary to think new generations believe (and why wouldn’t they) they are searching reliable information and it literally just fabricates!

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Martin Pratt @martinpratt.bsky.social · 10/12/2024

Research reveals power imbalance in youth mental health services may deter help-seeking behavior among young people. Evidence points to need for restructuring professional-patient dynamics. Important implications for service delivery and accessibility acamh.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

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Ina Hallström @killedbyproxy.bsky.social · 10/12/2024

Very excited to share that my second dissertation article has been published in 𝘍𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘵 𝘗𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘰𝘱𝘩𝘺 𝘘𝘶𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘭𝘺! 💫🥳🎉 It focuses on epistemic injustice and recognition in the context of endometriosis (endo), a gendered chronic illness affecting millions worldwide. ojs.lib.uwo.ca/index.php/fp...

ojs.lib.uwo.ca

Endo Episteme: Epistemic Injustice and the Misrecognition of Endometriosis | Feminist Philosophy Quarterly

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Dr Rebecca Johnson @researching-reb.bsky.social · 08/12/2024

Resharing this as it’s helped me find so many wonderful people to follow!

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Dr Rebecca Johnson @researching-reb.bsky.social · 06/12/2024

Subject to minor corrections, I can now introduce you to Dr Johnson 🥰 🎉

Rebecca holding her thesis with a bottle of rum

Rebecca’s name with a ‘Dr sticker’ next to her name

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Dr Rebecca Johnson @researching-reb.bsky.social · 05/12/2024

Also, a massage and new set of nails, that’s an appropriate way to spend the day before your viva yes?

A white female hand, with three gold rings, two are bands and one is a green emerald. A new set of gel nails, with green and red French tips on some, and trinket like gems on the other two

A dark and atmospheric room with high ceilings, in the middle a massage bed with towels and blankets.

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Dr Rebecca Johnson @researching-reb.bsky.social · 05/12/2024

Look at this demure little angel waking up from her nap today 🥹

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Dr Rebecca Johnson @researching-reb.bsky.social · 04/12/2024

Taking the time to tell people in your everyday life what they are doing well / why you are grateful for them is a habit we should all try and work on more. Not just friends and partners but colleagues, practitioners, students, family. Small acts of community and kindness can act as glimmers.

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