Main areas of interes 1. Social Emotional Development 2. School/Child/Youth Mental Health and Wellbeing 3. Science of Evaluation and; Implementation 4. Understanding and Applying Evidence in School Contexts 5. Recovery in Mental Health

Dr. McMahon teaches in the area of abnormal and clinical psychology with a focus on school, child and youth mental health.

Dr McMahon is a Senior Lecturer in Psychology in the Department of Psychology, UL. Her main area of research is the promotion of  school, child and youth mental health and wellbeing. Dr McMahons research seeks to explore how best to promote a school environment that supports teacher and student wellbeing. Previous posts included working as an evaluator for Jigsaw, the National Youth Mental Health Centre and as project manager for the design and implementation of a mental health service for young people aged 12-25. She also chaired the Jigsaw Advisory Group (JAG) for Limerick city and county from 2018-2022. In addition Dr. McMahon has had a lead role in several projects related to recovery in mental health and was a steering group member of the Advancing Recovery in Ireland (ARI) Mid West committee, Health Service Executive. Dr. McMahons research interests also draw on implementation science to promote best practice in the design and delivery of interventions to promote positive mental health and wellbeing in school contexts. Jennifer is the Founder and Director of the School, Child and; Youth Mental Health and Wellbeing research lab in the Department of Psycholoyg, Faculty of Education and; Health Sciences UL. The lab hosts several PhD researchers, postdoctoral researchers and research assistants. The SCY-lab collaborates with both national and international academics and is working with a range of community partners including: Narrative 4, Rugby Players Ireland, Mental Health Ireland, The Limerick Youth Service, Health Service Executive, UL Hospitals Group, the Limerick Clare and Education Training Board, Jigsaw Limerick and the Junior Health Sciences Academy.

• Jennifer is currently (2023) a member of the planning committee for the national Hello, How Are You campaign, Mental Health Ireland. 
• In From 2020-2022 she was the Wellbeing Advisor for the NCCA Advisory Group for the review and redevelopment of its Draft Curriculum Guidelines for Children in Detention and Care (2007)
• Jennifer is also the Wellbeing expert on the UL team responsible for the Evaluation of the Junior Cycle Framework funded by the NCCA
• Jennifer is also a founder and UL lead for the T-REX initiative. TT-REX is an online network for teachers and other educational researchers www.t-rex.ie 

Topics of Interest 1. Social Emotional Development 2. School/Child/Youth Mental Health and Wellbeing 4. Science of Evaluation and; Implementation 5. Understanding and Applying Evidence in School Contexts 5. Recovery in Mental Health

• MY-Psy (MY Psychology) - The development of a psychology led curriculum to promote adolescent mental health and wellbeing funded by Science Foundation Ireland (MY-Psy). Currently being piloted in 5 schools in the Limerick region.
• CoSPACE Ireland - Dr McMahon is also the Irish lead for CoSPACE IRELAND, a study tracking the mental health of families and young people throughout the pandemic and beyond and is a member of the CoSPACE International Consortium.