'Be Seen: an arts-led participatory approach to understanding 'big data' in young people's mental health and use of images by young people

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'Big data' is a buzzword in many areas of our lives. The rapid linkage of information from a wide range of sources - health, social media- has resulted in hope for a new era of research into young people's mental health. The Adolescent Mental Health Data Platform (ADP) aims to harness this step-change bringing together multiple sources of 'big data' anonymously and securely in one place, protecting young people's privacy. The data is made 'research ready'-it doesn't need tidying or cleaning-so approved researchers can deliver results in a timely way. This is all great but working with young people from diverse backgrounds, who can be hard to reach, needs to be a central part of this new era- so they can express their feelings about their data, often created as they go about their daily lives, being used for research and influence the questions being asked. We have made a start on this working with paid student interns (A level and University), MQ's Young People's Advisory Group and creating ADP Ambassadors. As part of the ADP platform we also developed the 'Be Heard' initiative. This brings together the voices of young people affected by mental health issues and directs the type of content we create for the page- such as a video about how we anonymise data made by young people for young people, who asked for it to be made. We were surprised they wanted to know those details but that's the point!This engagement work has also highlighted the quickly changing nature of the way young people communicate, particularly online. Image-based platforms have replaced the once popular forums. Young people are keen to share their stories and now do this predominantly through imagery (both photography and moving images/ videos). This project will bring young people together with professionals from arts, data science and medicine to develop the 'Be Heard' initiative into 'Be Seen.' A series of workshops will be held with young people aged 16-24. These workshops will equip young people with the creative thinking skills in terms of how they want to be seen and include discussions around the use of their data. We will use our real 'big data' projects as examples. Workshop participants will include those who have experienced mental health problems or who have self-harmed. One workshop will be held with young people from the Gypsy and Traveller community and include discussion of a current 'big data' project in their community. Another with Refugee and Asylum Seeker young people. The workshops will enable young people to be more analytical about their own creative stories. Issues such as ownership of these images and the tension between the intent behind a post and it's interpretation by those viewing it will be talked about. These workshops will also explore alternatives to photography including filmmaking and creative spaces in virtual reality. Young people's perspectives will steer the direction of the project. Following these workshops researchers will work one-to-one with young people should they wish. This will include young people who have experienced self-harm and mental health issues to create pieces of artwork. Through this one-on-one work, alternatives to photography will be explored and young people will be equipped with the tools to manage any tension between intent and interpretation and to create imagery as catharsis without increasing risk to themselves or others. Stringent safety criteria will be employed. No graphic imagery will be used and instead abstract alternatives such as virtual or augmented reality spaces will be explored. The artwork created by these young people will be showcased in an online exhibition and film. The exhibition will be open to the public and will highlight the critical thinking and skills covered in the creation of pieces. The exhibition will also aim to raise awareness of issues around the use of 'big data' and narratives through images, facilitate open talking and reduce stigma.