Helen is a Professor of Child Psychology and an internationally recognised expert on outdoor play and child mental health. Throughout her career, she has focused on understanding how mental health difficulties develop in childhood, with the goal of improving outcomes for children and families.

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In 2019, Helen was awarded a prestigious UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship, enabling her to extend her work on child mental health to investigate the role of outdoor and adventurous play in promoting good mental health and wellbeing. Her research has been funded by organisations including the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), the Royal Society, the British Academy, the Kavli Foundation, the Australian Research Council and the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR).

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In 2021, Helen received the British Psychological Society's Margaret Donaldson Prize in recognition of her outstanding contribution to developmental science. She was elected to the Board of Play England in 2022 and, in 2023, was elected to Fellowship through distinction of the Faculty of Public Health.

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Helen is committed to research with real-world impact. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she played a leading role in the PlayFirstUK campaign, using evidence to advocate for children's play to be prioritised as restrictions eased. In 2021, she co-led the Summer of Play campaign in partnership with Save the Children and Play England, drawing on research evidence to promote children's right to play.

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Helen's work is regularly featured in national and international media, and she continues to work closely with policymakers, practitioners and third-sector organisations to ensure that research informs practice and improves the lives of children and young people.