Helen Dodd

Helen Dodd is Professor of Child Psychology at the University of Exeter Medical School, serving as Deputy Head of the Department of Public Health and Sports Science. Her work bridges developmental psychology and public health with a focus on children's mental well-being through play-centered interventions.

Research Interests:
As a leading expert in children's play and mental health, Professor Dodd investigates how adventurous play prevents childhood anxiety disorders using longitudinal data analysis, eyetracking, and observational methods. Her UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship examines play-mental health links, building on her ESRC-funded research (2014-2019) and pandemic-era #SummerOfPlay campaign with @playfirstUK.

Awards and Recognition:

• Margaret Donaldson Award from British Psychological Society (2021)
• Fellowship of Faculty of Public Health (awarded by distinction)
• Anxiety Disorders Association of America award
• British Psychological Society award

Grants and Supervision:
Professor Dodd holds current UKRI funding and has secured grants from ESRC, Royal Society, British Academy, Kavli Foundation, and Australian Research Council. She supervises PhD and Masters students while collaborating on childhood anxiety pathway research and public health initiatives aligned with Sustainable Development Goals 3, 4, 10, and 11.

Professional Leadership:
Elected to Play England's board in 2022, she actively shapes national play policy and contributes to media discourse on children's mental health through consultancy, keynote speaking, and policy development.