Youth Mental Health
At the division of Youth Mental Health, we investigate individual, interpersonal, and psychosocial factors that contribute to emerging mental disorders. Our research focuses on early risk factors and symptoms associated with later transdiagnostic mental health outcomes. To this end, we examine how patterns of dysregulation unfold across childhood and adolescence, with particular attention to developmental processes and temporal dynamics, both on a micro-level across days or hours and on a larger time-scale across years. Another key objective is to understand help-seeking processes and to promote timely access to care for children, adolescents, and their caregivers. Finally, we aim to identify modifiable factors that can inform the development of preventive interventions.
Research projects
Understanding tonic and phasic irritability in help-seeking children and youth
There are two components of irritability in childhood: irritable mood and temper outbursts. But what role do these two facets play in developmental psychopathology?
Principal Investigators: PD Dr. Sébastien Urben, Prof. Dr. Ines Mürner-Lavanchy
Team: Aline Dietsche, Julia Giovannini, Marion Abi Kheir, Leon Schmidt
Link to SNSF data portal: https: //data.snf.ch/grants/grant/215660
Proximal risk factors for suicidality in an at-risk sample of Zambian youth
This experience sampling (ESM, also known as ecological momentary assessment, EMA) substudy of the study "Assessing suicidal behavior and suicidal ideation among youth attended at the Emergency department of five public hospitals in Lusaka, Zambia" will investigate feasibility of ESM and proximal risk factors for suicidal ideation and behavior in 16-25 year-olds.
Principal Investigators: Dr. med. Irene Falgas Bague, Prof. Dr. Günther Fink, Prof. Dr. Ines Mürner-Lavanchy
Co-investigators: Dr. Ravi Paul, Chimuka Muleya, Mariia Kuleba
Team: Victoria Jorda, Elias Kunda, Patrick Kwizera, Chungu Musonda
Participatory research with young people
Eight adolescents aged 14 to 18 will join our division for two years as equal co-researchers.
They will help decide which research questions we address, how we recruit participants, how our assessments take place and how findings are communicated in an accessible way. Thereby, we hope our research to be shaped by the perspectives and needs of those it is meant to benefit: the young people.
The project "Voices in Youth Mental Health Research" is accompanied by an investigation into the feasibility and acceptance of such a participatory research approach (also known as Patient and Public Involvement, PPI) within our division.
Principal Investigator: Prof. Dr. Ines Mürner-Lavanchy
Co-Principal Investigators: Remo Schraner, Dr. Noemi Walder
Duration: January 2026 - December 2027
This project is co-funded by the Palatin Foundation.
Do you live in the Canton of Basel-Stadt or Canton of Baselland, are between 14 and 18 years old and are interested in joining? Then please get in touch with Remo: remo.schraner@clutterunibas.ch
Our methods
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