Wellbeing Investments in Schools and Employers (WISE) study

The WISE Research Team are studying how schools and workplaces invest resources in mental health and wellbeing. We use in-depth case study methods to better understand how schools and workplaces use their financial, human and space resources for mental health and wellbeing activities. We aim to discover the best ways to support mental health and wellbeing investments in these domains. The WISE project will run from 2021 to 2025. It is funded by a Wellcome Trust investigator award in Social Science and Humanities.

The WISE Project overview video

Introduction

The WISE project will provide a comprehensive understanding of the processes by which schools and workplaces invest in mental health and wellbeing promotion. This is urgently needed, as these organisations, though not traditionally designed for this function, are increasingly required to support individuals’ mental health across the life-course. To date, economics has contributed valuable information on the cost-effectiveness of specific interventions. However, this only goes part of the way to informing how resources could be best allocated. A better understanding of processes, needs, and values, within these organisations is required to establish how they can be best supported and connect evidence to practice.

The WISE programme of work seeks to establish how schools and workplaces invest resources in mental wellbeing. This includes how money, time, and space are allocated to wellbeing interventions, staffing, culture, and infrastructure. The study will generate models of decision-making processes, establish how schools and workplaces can be best supported to make equitable and efficient decisions, and develop new research methods for studying investment decisions in organisations.

Meet the team

Professor Hareth Al-Janabi - Professor of Health Economics, Project Lead

Dr Sedighe Hosseini-Jebeli - Research Fellow

Yibei Qu - Research Fellow

Dr Igor Shagalov - Research Fellow

Dr Luke Henstock - PhD student

Yusuf Ozdemir - PhD student

Sally O'Loughlin - Research Project Administrator

Project collaborators:

Rachel Baker, Professor of Health Economics, Glasgow Caledonian University
Sarah Byford, Professor of Health Economics, Kings College London
Derek Beach, Professor of Political Science, University of Aahus, Denmark
Sarah-Jane Fenton, Lecturer in Mental Health Policy, University of Birmingham
Amanda Owen-Smith, Senior Lecturer, Bristol Medical School
Collette Soan, Senior Specialist Educational and Child Psychologist, Telford & Wrekin Council
Dan Wheatley, Director of Undergraduate Programmes, University of Birmingham

Previous team members:

Aims of the project

The project aims to establish:

Causal processes involved in allocating resources to mental wellbeing in schools and workplaces;
How decision-makers in schools and workplaces use evidence in allocating resources;
The diversity of viewpoints on investing in mental wellbeing in schools and workplaces.

We are using a range of qualitative and mixed-methods to investigate these issues.

Overview of study

There are four work packages in the WISE project.

SCHOOLS: In this work package we will conduct in-depth case studies with schools to investigate how they invest in mental wellbeing. We will apply ‘process-tracing’ (a method primarily used in political science) to understand the sequence of events and who is involved, synthesise diverse sources of data, and ‘get inside the black box’ of decision-making.

Schools case study information sheet [PDF, 192 KB]

WORKPLACES: In this work package, we will study decision-making in large workplaces. As with SCHOOLS we will be using process tracing methods to investigate how workplaces invest in mental wellbeing, with the aim of understanding how they can be best supported in their resource allocation decisions.

Wise Workplace Individual Information Sheet [PDF, 86KB]

EVIDENCE: In this work package we will study how schools and workplaces use evidence, particularly economic evidence, in allocating resources for mental wellbeing promotion. The emphasis will be on understanding both current uses of evidence and future needs for evidence. We will also be using cognitive interviews to study how ‘decision-makers’ respond to different sources of evidence.

Think Aloud Interview Information Sheet [PDF, 113KB]

PERSPECTIVES: This work package will focus on the different viewpoints individuals (including workers, policy-makers, and the public) hold about mental wellbeing investment in schools and workplaces. We will identify and analyse these perspectives using qualitative research and Q-methodology.

Perspectives on Wellbeing Investments in Schools and Employers Study Interview Information Sheet [PDF, 113KB]

Latest update

July 2025:

Over the last 6 months, the WISE project has made significant progress with achievements in publications and dissemination events.

We are pleased to announce that the first 4 papers from the WISE project have been published with the prestigious journal of Social Science and Medicine. To view these publications, please follow the links in the ‘Publications’ section below.

The dissemination activities for the project are progressing well, with a successful workshop on the school’s work held at the end of May. The workshop was attended by academics, school leaders and policy makers and included presentations on the outcomes of the WISE study and ‘world café’ style table discussions. The workshop participants found the sessions engaging and stimulating and particularly liked the mix of participants from different backgrounds, as is reflected in the following feedback:

‘The mix of professionals that were in attendance, meaning that collaboration allowed us to think more critically and challenge each other on certain aspects of whatever we were exploring. Also that mix between information being presented and working collaboratively.’ – School Mental Health and Wellbeing Lead

‘Learning more about how education settings make decisions as this informs my work and stakeholder engagement. The enthusiasm of the research team really came across and was engaging, complex info was well explained.’ – Policy Maker

We are currently planning the next workshop where we will be disseminating our research that relates to workplaces. This will take place as a one-day workshop on the 20^th November at the Edgbaston Park Hotel. This workshop will also be a mix of academic, practice and policy community and will also involve presentations from the WISE team as well as ‘world café’ style table discussions. If you would like to attend this workshop, please sign up here, or contact Sally O’Loughlin (s.r.oloughlin.bham.ac.uk) for more information.

The Resource Allocation Practice Network are holding their first symposium on the 18^th September 2025 at 'thestudio…' in Birmingham City Centre. This event will be hosted by Prof. Hareth Al-Janabi and include short presentations and panel discussions on real world evidence-based resource allocation in health and social care from a range of experts. If you would like to attend this symposium, please sign up here, or contact Sally O’Loughlin (s.r.oloughlin.bham.ac.uk) for more information.

We are also running a Process Tracing workshop on the 19^th September which will be led by WISE project collaborator Prof. Derek Beach. The workshop will be an introduction to process tracing with discussion of some examples of use in different settings. This workshop has been very popular and is now oversubscribed. Please do get in touch with Sally O’Loughlin (s.r.oloughlin.bham.ac.uk) if you would like to join the waiting list.

The project team have also been sharing their work at conferences and stakeholder events including the Health Economics Study Group, Healthy Schools Working Group and the International Health Economics Association. More information about our conferences and stakeholder events can be found in the ‘dissemination and impact’ section of this webpage.

Dissemination and impact

November 2025 - Health Economics and Health Policy Seminar

Yibei presented findings from our WISE study at the Health Economics and Health Policy (HEHP) seminar at Bristol University. The session shared insights from our think-aloud work on how school decision-makers use economic and non-economic evidence when allocating resources for mental health and wellbeing. The discussion helped highlight how evidence can be made more accessible and relevant to school practice.

November 2025 - Global Observatory of Long-Term Care (GOLTC) Qualitative Research Interest Group

Professor Hareth Al-Janabi and Dr Igor Shagalov delivered a joint presentation on process tracing for the Qualitative Research Interest Group within the Global Observatory of Long-Term Care (GOLTC).

The Qualitative Research Interest Group brings together researchers engaged in qualitative and mixed-methods approaches in health and social care, providing a forum to exchange ideas, discuss methodological challenges, and reflect on the role of qualitative evidence in shaping policy and practice.

The session, titled Process Tracing: Application to Health and Social Care Research, introduced process tracing as a rigorous qualitative approach for identifying causal mechanisms within case-based research. Professor Al-Janabi outlined the conceptual foundations of the methodology and discussed its growing use in health economics. Dr Shagalov illustrated his application using case study evidence from the WISE study, focusing on how English schools make decisions about investing in pupil mental health and wellbeing. The session concluded with a reflection on how process tracing can support analytical rigour in social care research, particularly in understanding organisational behaviour, decision-making, and policy implementation.

The event contributed to ongoing methodological dialogue across the GOLTC community and highlighted the potential of process tracing to strengthen qualitative inquiry in health and social care.

July 2025 - Healthy Schools Working Group

Igor presented findings from the WISE study at the Healthy Schools Working Group, organised by Birmingham City Council. He spoke about how some schools become high investors in mental health and wellbeing, while others face challenges in sustaining such investment. The discussion will help inform future policy recommendations.

May 2025 – Health Policy and Politics Network (HPPN)

Igor presented findings from the WISE study’s ‘Schools’ work package at the annual HPPN conference in Birmingham. The presentation explored how and why senior school leaders in England invest in pupil mental health and wellbeing, drawing on qualitative case studies and process tracing to uncover the mechanisms behind high investment. The session contributed to a panel on education policy and wellbeing, sparking discussion on the role of leadership, evidence use, and policy context in shaping mental health strategies in schools. The event provided an excellent platform to share insights with health policy scholars and connect with researchers working at the intersection of education, politics, and public health.

January 2025 - Health Economics Study Group (HESG)

Yibei, Igor and Hareth attended the HESG conference in Bristol which aims to support and promote the work of health economists through biannual meetings that foster academic discussion and collaboration. Yibei’s paper on how school decision-makers use economic and non-economic evidence to allocate mental health resources was discussed by Joanna Thorn from the University of Bristol. Igor’s paper on investment decision-making in students' mental health and wellbeing in English schools was discussed by Joanna Coast from the University of Bristol. The presentations sparked valuable and thought-provoking comments and recommendations from fellow experts, highlighting the significance and impact of their research. HESG was an excellent opportunity to engage with experts, exchange ideas, and explore potential collaborations. The feedback and connections made at the conference are expected to drive further advancements in the field of health economics and contribute to the improvement of student mental health and wellbeing.

October 2024 - Yunus Centre for Social Business and Health Seminar

Yusuf presented his work on "perspectives on mental health investments in schools" at the Yunus Centre for Social Business and Health seminar at the Glasgow Caledonian University, in Glasgow. This seminar was part of a day of events with the WISE project lead Prof Hareth Al-Janabi, including successive presentations about the WISE Project, a Q&A session, and a separate discussion session on the Q-methodology and Yusuf's ongoing work with the Q-method experts in Yunus Centre. The seminar attendees were staff members, researchers and students from the Yunus Centre and their wider network. This opportunity to engage with an external audience helped Yusuf to consider his studies from different aspects. The discussion with Q experts further allowed him to broaden his understanding of Q-methodology techniques and its applications in wellbeing research. The visit also provided a platform for networking and collaboration.

August 2024 - European Group of Process Tracing Studies Conference

Luke presented his work on workplace wellbeing decision-making at the European Group of Process Tracing Studies conference at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development, in Berlin. The conference hones in on the use of Process Tracing in a variety of settings, but generally focuses on psychology, decision-making and cognitive science. This opportunity to engage with experts from different fields allowed Luke to broaden his understanding of process tracing techniques and consider new ways to apply these methods to workplace wellbeing. The experience also provided a platform for networking and collaboration, potentially leading to interdisciplinary projects that could deepen the impact of his work.

July 2024 - European Health Economics Association and European Group for Organizational Studies

On July 4th, Dr. Camille Allard presented some early findings from her work package on evidence use for schools in the UK, at the European Health Economics Association, in Vienna. Findings indicated that the use of evidence by school stakeholders was strongly influenced by the environment and needs of their schools, and that a better access to health economics information could enable an easier and wider use of evidence in education settings. The presentation was also an occasion for reflecting on the current accessibility of health economics evidence in real world situations. A few days after, Dr Allard presented findings related to her research with workplaces and evidence use at the European Group for Organizational Studies (EGOS) in Milan. Findings indicated that the use of evidence about health and wellbeing was not always systematic either in workplaces, as it could also be influenced by power relations and hierarchies. Discussions around the construction of health and wellbeing in workplaces were very fruitful during the presentation sessions.

January 2024 - Health Economics Study Group

In January Luke Henstock (PhD student) and Prof Hareth Al-Janabi (Project Lead and supervisor) attended the Health Economics Study Group winter conference in Exeter. The conference is centred on work in progress and Luke had a paper accepted which combined two chapters from his PhD: 1) a systematic review on barriers to workplace mental health and wellbeing investments, and 2) the early findings from his first case study (drawing on interviews and document analysis).

HESG is designed to give researchers feedback that can be incorporated into the final version of their work. The paper was presented by a researcher from the University of Exeter who raised some interesting points for discussion and also reflected on the areas the authors wanted feedback on. The conference presented opportunities for Luke to network with other people in the discipline, get feedback on how process tracing is received/can be used by health economists, and to chair the discussion of a paper.

November 2023 - Process Tracing Workshop

In October, Luke Henstock, a 3^rd year PhD student leading the workplaces work package, visited Aarhus University in Denmark for a Process Tracing methods workshop. The three-day course was led by project collaborator Derek Beach. The sessions were designed to foster an in-depth understanding of how processual theories are formulated and refined. The overarching goal was to equip participants with the skills to capture intricate activities and their underlying causal linkages. Derek focused on the methodological tools used in process tracing, in addition to developing an understanding of the historical underpinnings of the qualitative technique. Seminars explored how processual theories can be developed and improved, focusing on how to capture the activities and their underlying causal linkages to understand how a process works and evidence it empirically.

Given the small size of the group, Luke was able to present the different aspects of his data from the first case study. Derek and the workshop participants provided invaluable insights, challenging various aspects of Luke's work, and contributing significantly to the development of his process theory.

May 2023 - West Midlands Combined Authority Joint Masterclass

Professor Hareth Al-Janabi and Dr Rebecca Johnson presented emerging findings from the WISE study at the Joint Masterclass series with West Midlands Combined Authority on Wednesday 24^th May. They drew on the hard work of the wider WISE Team: Dr Camille Allard, PhD Students Luke Henstock and Yusuf Ozdemir, and Research Administrator Sally O’Loughlin. Staff and students from the Health Economics Unit also participated in The Centre for Urban Wellbeing event. Stakeholders from Community, Academic and Policy perspectives joined together to discuss investing in mental health and wellbeing. A priority setting exercise was undertaken by all attendees, tasked with allocating resources for supporting mental health and wellbeing in an imagined local authority, with different groups focusing on two different priority themes – ‘Crisis’ and ‘Prevention’. It was a unique opportunity to forge connections and gain insights into different priorities and perspectives on investing in mental health and wellbeing and facilitate wider opportunities through the Centre for Urban Wellbeing.