Wellbeing Investments in Schools and Employers (WISE) study

The WISE project investigated how schools and workplaces make decisions about how they invest in mental health and wellbeing for their staff members. The project also looked at how evidence was used in the decision-making process and the diversity of viewpoints on investing in mental wellbeing. The overarching aims of the WISE project were to investigate:

1. Causal processes involved in allocating resources to mental wellbeing in schools and workplaces;
2. How decision-makers in schools and workplaces use evidence in allocating resources;

3. The diversity of viewpoints on investing in mental wellbeing in schools and workplaces.

The WISE project consisted of 4 work packages, one looking at school decision making, one looking at workplace decision making and two cross cutting themes, one looking at evidence use and one looking at perspectives and viewpoints.

SCHOOLS: In this work package we conducted in-depth case studies with schools to investigate how they invest in mental wellbeing. We applied ‘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. We also conducted a survey for 130 schools which further investigated the resource allocation decision making processes. You can find out more about the school work package, the two-day workshop, recommendations and further dissemination activities in the ‘schools’ section below.

WORKPLACES: In this work package, we studied decision-making in large workplaces. As with schools we used 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. You can find out more about the workplaces work package, the workshop, recommendations and further dissemination activities in the ‘workplaces’ section below.

EVIDENCE: In this work package we studied how schools and workplaces use evidence, particularly economic evidence, in allocating resources for mental wellbeing promotion. The emphasis was on understanding both current uses of evidence and future needs for evidence. We also used cognitive interviews to study how ‘decision-makers’ respond to different sources of evidence. Further information about this work package is included in both the ‘schools’ and ‘workplaces’ sections below.

PERSPECTIVES: This work package will focus on the different viewpoints individuals (including workers, policymakers, and the public) hold about mental wellbeing investment in schools and workplaces. We identified and analysed these perspectives using qualitative research and Q-methodology. Further information about the perspectives work package is included in both the ‘schools’ and ‘workplaces’ sections below.

The WISE project Team consisted of:

• Professor Hareth Al-Janabi - Professor of Health Economics, Project Lead
• Dr Igor Shagalov - Research Fellow
• Dr Sedighe Hosseini-Jebeli - Research Fellow
• Dr Luke Henstock - PhD student
• Yusuf Ozdemir - PhD student
• Dr Rebecca Johnson - Research Fellow
• Dr Camille Allard - Research Fellow
• Sally O'Loughlin - Research Project Administrator
• Melanie Dillon - Research Project Administrator

In this work package we conducted in-depth case studies with schools to investigate how they invest in mental wellbeing. We applied ‘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. We also conducted a survey for 130 schools which further investigated the resource allocation decision making processes.

School Workshop

We held a successful 2 day workshop on our schools work at the end of May 2025. The first day focused on applications to the practice and policy community, with the second day being focused on applications for the research community. 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

The world café discussions were used to focus on 5 of the 8 WISE features, these were:

• staff time
• actor network
• different goals
• resource search
• practice wisdom.

With the table leaders’ with the table leaders facilitating, these themes were discussed and further developed.

School Findings

The final school findings and recommendations from the project will be updated soon.

Publications

• Johnson, R., Beach, D., & Al-Janabi, H. (2025). How is process tracing applied in health research? A systematic scoping review. Social science & medicine (1982), 366, 117539. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2024.117539
• Johnson, R., Allard, C., Soan, C., Beach, D., & Al-Janabi, H. (2025). 'Care as capital': Developing theory about school investment in mental health and wellbeing. Social science & medicine (1982), 366, 117665. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2024.117665
• Allard, C., Johnson, R., O'Loughlin, S., & Al-Janabi, H. (2025). Mental health and wellbeing priority setting: a study of evidence use in schools in England. Social science & medicine (1982), 380, 118214. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2025.118214

In this work package, we studied decision-making in large workplaces. As with schools we used process tracing methods, think-aloud techniques, Q-methodology, surveys and interviews to investigate how workplaces invest in mental wellbeing, with the aim of understanding how they can be best supported in their resource allocation decisions.

Investing WISEly in Workplaces workshop

The workplaces workshop ‘Investing WISEly in Workplaces’ took place at the end of November 2025 and consisted of a group of workplace leaders, policy community and academics. Presentations were given on the WISE project findings and a panel discussion entitled ‘Importance of Investing in mental Health’. The afternoon consisted of ‘world café’ table discussions focused on 5 of the 8 WISE project features. These discussions helped to develop recommendations based on the WISE project findings.

‘[I] made some very good connections working in this space where we can collaborate in the future’ – Policy participant

‘I really enjoyed the world café discussions. It was extremely valuable to hear firsthand the challenges and experiences shared by stakeholders.’ – academic participant

Workplace Findings

The final school findings and recommendations from the project will be updated soon.

Publications

Henstock, L., Johnson, R., Kinghorn, P., Beach, D., & Al-Janabi, H. (2025). Why and how do workplaces invest in mental health and wellbeing? A systematic review and process tracing study. Social science & medicine (1982), 366, 117633. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2024.117633

Overview

The Resource Allocation Practice (RAP) Network was a network of academics, policy makers and practitioners who have a research interest in resource allocation practices in health and social care. The activities of the RAP network included networking opportunities, journal clubs, training sessions and an academic symposium.

The new NIHR evidence and practice in economics sub-group will be continuing the work of the RAP network in strengthening the link between evidence and health and care policy and practice.

RAP Symposium

In September we held the Inaugural Resource Allocation Practice (RAP) Symposium which was a symposium engaging academics working in resource allocation in health and social care alongside NHS and Local Authority (LA) leaders who are involved in making these resource allocation decisions.

The symposium featured short presentations from members of the RAP network on current research and panel discussions on the topics of ‘Funding the three shifts in the NHS 10 year plan’ and ‘methods advances in resource allocation research’. We received indications that it has fostered connections between NHS, LA and academics with potential research collaborations to follow.

‘I have implemented care as a GP and commissioner, and this was an excellent opportunity for me to consider latest thinking and research from a health economics perspective on resource allocation. This was achieved through the excellent high-quality presentations from a wide range of expert speakers and my dialogue with other participants.’ – NHS leadership participant

‘This is an important network, and I have already been following up with others present there. Could be quite a springboard for future research.’ – Academic participant

Process Tracing Workshop

We also ran a training workshop on Process Tracing methodology led by Professor Derek Beach and Professor Hareth Al-Janabi. Process Tracing has been a key methodology used in the WISE project and PhD student Luke Henstock and Dr Igor Shagalov were able to present their practice examples of using process tracing within the WISE project,  with many participants able to consider applying process tracing within their work for the first time.

We have received positive feedback on this event with many participants able to apply process tracing within their work or develop new research ideas to use with process tracing.

‘I have a clearer idea of how potentially use process tracing in my work (or collaborate with some of those that would use it) and I have met colleagues that are doing relevant/related work but from different perspectives’ – Academic participant

For further information about the WISE project, please contact Professor Hareth Al-Janabi at: h.aljanabi@bham.ac.uk.