Dr Will Ball
@wpball.com
Interested in working out how to reduce unfair and avoidable differences in health. Mostly youth mental health.
Chancellor's Fellow at Robert Gordon University | Social Epidemiologist | Pro Cycling | Rstats | Causal Inference 🇮🇪🏴🍉
Chancellor's Fellow at Robert Gordon University | Social Epidemiologist | Pro Cycling | Rstats | Causal Inference 🇮🇪🏴🍉
Pinned
Dr Will Ball
@wpball.com
· Nov 10
I've had a bit of an influx of new followers this weekend. Welcome!
I'm a Social Epidemiologist based in Scotland 🏴
I do research on young peoples mental health - mostly about how socioeconomic exposures cause inequity, but also working out how much better things could be in a fairer society.
I'm a Social Epidemiologist based in Scotland 🏴
I do research on young peoples mental health - mostly about how socioeconomic exposures cause inequity, but also working out how much better things could be in a fairer society.
Reposted by Dr Will Ball
@teni.bsky.social don't seem to use their bsky account so I'm posting this over here from their facebook because people should see it: one of the first things our new President Connolly did last week was write the community a letter for TDOR 🏳️⚧️
www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=...
www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=...
November 24, 2025 at 6:51 PM
@teni.bsky.social don't seem to use their bsky account so I'm posting this over here from their facebook because people should see it: one of the first things our new President Connolly did last week was write the community a letter for TDOR 🏳️⚧️
www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=...
www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=...
The only 'concession' for-profit publishers ever made to OA was shifting the cost of access from readers to authors.
And that on top of the fees university libraries already pay for journal access.
And that on top of the fees university libraries already pay for journal access.
Pushing for open access is not enough. We need a push to end profit.
We wrote the Strain on scientific publishing to highlight the problems of time & trust. With a fantastic group of co-authors, we present The Drain of Scientific Publishing:
a 🧵 1/n
Drain: arxiv.org/abs/2511.04820
Strain: direct.mit.edu/qss/article/...
Oligopoly: direct.mit.edu/qss/article/...
a 🧵 1/n
Drain: arxiv.org/abs/2511.04820
Strain: direct.mit.edu/qss/article/...
Oligopoly: direct.mit.edu/qss/article/...
November 12, 2025 at 2:49 PM
The only 'concession' for-profit publishers ever made to OA was shifting the cost of access from readers to authors.
And that on top of the fees university libraries already pay for journal access.
And that on top of the fees university libraries already pay for journal access.
New Scientific rule - anytime you use a causal term in a paper, it must be put in quotes.
This one surely has something on offer for every one: In this cross-sectional mediation analysis, the "effects" of soft drink consumption on depression were "mediated" by abundance of Eggerthela in the gut microbiome.
This was sent to me via dm and now you all got to suffer as well.
This was sent to me via dm and now you all got to suffer as well.
Soft Drink Consumption and Depression Mediated by Gut Microbiome Alterations
This cohort study examines the association between soft drink consumption and major depressive disorder diagnosis and severity and whether this association is mediated by changes in the gut microbiota...
jamanetwork.com
November 9, 2025 at 1:46 PM
New Scientific rule - anytime you use a causal term in a paper, it must be put in quotes.
Celebrity traitors finale was great, but all logic was abandoned.
Nick to Joe: so we should both just vote for Cat
Joe: *votes for Cat*
Nick: that was suspicious
Nick to Joe: so we should both just vote for Cat
Joe: *votes for Cat*
Nick: that was suspicious
November 7, 2025 at 7:36 AM
Celebrity traitors finale was great, but all logic was abandoned.
Nick to Joe: so we should both just vote for Cat
Joe: *votes for Cat*
Nick: that was suspicious
Nick to Joe: so we should both just vote for Cat
Joe: *votes for Cat*
Nick: that was suspicious
So I'm apparently no longer eligible for the COVID vaccine despite living with someone who is immunosuppressed.
November 3, 2025 at 3:16 PM
So I'm apparently no longer eligible for the COVID vaccine despite living with someone who is immunosuppressed.
An independent inquiry commissioned by the UK Government found that British Army soldiers shot and killed unarmed civil rights protestors in Derry (who posed no threat).
To this day no one has ever been held accountable.
To this day no one has ever been held accountable.
October 23, 2025 at 2:38 PM
An independent inquiry commissioned by the UK Government found that British Army soldiers shot and killed unarmed civil rights protestors in Derry (who posed no threat).
To this day no one has ever been held accountable.
To this day no one has ever been held accountable.
Beautiful morning for some CX
October 12, 2025 at 8:16 AM
Beautiful morning for some CX
Well done Derek Gee on taking a principled stand. The Israeli-based team suing him for €30million in damages are unhinged.
Derek Gee hits back hard at Israel-Premier Tech after torn-up contract, 30 million euros damages claim #DerekGee #IsraelPremierTech #CyclingNews #GirodItalia #Cycling
Derek Gee hits back hard at Israel-Premier Tech after torn-up contract, 30 million euros damages claim
Derek Gee has spoken out now that his contract with Israel-Premier Tech has been terminated and a transfer is imminent. The 28-year-old Canadian was the team's top rider, finishing fourth in this year's Giro d'Italia, but Israel-Premier's stance forced Gee to leave, according to his own statement. H...
dlvr.it
October 10, 2025 at 4:54 PM
Well done Derek Gee on taking a principled stand. The Israeli-based team suing him for €30million in damages are unhinged.
My daughter has been learning how to make charts in google sheets.
"Let's make it 3D...........COOL!!!"
The joy of dataviz
"Let's make it 3D...........COOL!!!"
The joy of dataviz
October 9, 2025 at 4:35 PM
My daughter has been learning how to make charts in google sheets.
"Let's make it 3D...........COOL!!!"
The joy of dataviz
"Let's make it 3D...........COOL!!!"
The joy of dataviz
Reading some interest stats about health research funding in the UK in recent years.
- Only 7% goes to Mental Health research
- Only 5% of that MH funding goes to studies related to prevention
- Only 7% goes to Mental Health research
- Only 5% of that MH funding goes to studies related to prevention
October 9, 2025 at 1:42 PM
Reading some interest stats about health research funding in the UK in recent years.
- Only 7% goes to Mental Health research
- Only 5% of that MH funding goes to studies related to prevention
- Only 7% goes to Mental Health research
- Only 5% of that MH funding goes to studies related to prevention
Preliminary findings from my latest piece of research suggest that butter wouldn't melt.
October 9, 2025 at 8:31 AM
Preliminary findings from my latest piece of research suggest that butter wouldn't melt.
Very strange logic from Hansen. I wonder if this was an off the cuff quote & not a well thought out official response?
Imho, protestors are doing the right thing - raising awareness & putting pressure on institutions.
UCI should take the same stance as w/ Rusvelo - no Israeli registered teams.
Imho, protestors are doing the right thing - raising awareness & putting pressure on institutions.
UCI should take the same stance as w/ Rusvelo - no Israeli registered teams.
October 4, 2025 at 8:40 AM
Very strange logic from Hansen. I wonder if this was an off the cuff quote & not a well thought out official response?
Imho, protestors are doing the right thing - raising awareness & putting pressure on institutions.
UCI should take the same stance as w/ Rusvelo - no Israeli registered teams.
Imho, protestors are doing the right thing - raising awareness & putting pressure on institutions.
UCI should take the same stance as w/ Rusvelo - no Israeli registered teams.
We have a new family member.
This is Frida.
This is Frida.
October 4, 2025 at 4:29 AM
We have a new family member.
This is Frida.
This is Frida.
I'm delighted, if somewhat surprised, that I was awarded the highest scoring ECR abstract at #SSM2025
Quite a nice birthday present for me!
Many thanks to the kind reviewers and to SSM organisers. Had a great time in Bradford.
Quite a nice birthday present for me!
Many thanks to the kind reviewers and to SSM organisers. Had a great time in Bradford.
September 12, 2025 at 4:06 PM
I'm delighted, if somewhat surprised, that I was awarded the highest scoring ECR abstract at #SSM2025
Quite a nice birthday present for me!
Many thanks to the kind reviewers and to SSM organisers. Had a great time in Bradford.
Quite a nice birthday present for me!
Many thanks to the kind reviewers and to SSM organisers. Had a great time in Bradford.
It's just as Prof Notorious B.I.G always said:
"Mo [unequal distribution of] money, mo problems"
"Mo [unequal distribution of] money, mo problems"
Less inequality = fewer problems
@profkepickett.bsky.social lays our her vision for a good society at #SSM2025
@socsocmed.bsky.social
@profkepickett.bsky.social lays our her vision for a good society at #SSM2025
@socsocmed.bsky.social
September 12, 2025 at 4:03 PM
It's just as Prof Notorious B.I.G always said:
"Mo [unequal distribution of] money, mo problems"
"Mo [unequal distribution of] money, mo problems"
Some very interesting discussion, especially around constraints on the ability of researchers to influence policy.
I wonder whether we should perhaps spend less time trying to influence policymakers as they are now, and more time building a public mandate
#SSM2025
I wonder whether we should perhaps spend less time trying to influence policymakers as they are now, and more time building a public mandate
#SSM2025
Less than 15 minutes to our plenary panels, and already heard many important insights from Susan Hinchcliffe & Jenny Harries
#SSM2025
#SSM2025
September 11, 2025 at 1:23 PM
Some very interesting discussion, especially around constraints on the ability of researchers to influence policy.
I wonder whether we should perhaps spend less time trying to influence policymakers as they are now, and more time building a public mandate
#SSM2025
I wonder whether we should perhaps spend less time trying to influence policymakers as they are now, and more time building a public mandate
#SSM2025
"Build alliances with people who create different types of evidence"
Good advice from @profkatsmith.bsky.social in the 'translating evidence into policy' plenary at #SSM2025
Good advice from @profkatsmith.bsky.social in the 'translating evidence into policy' plenary at #SSM2025
September 11, 2025 at 12:55 PM
"Build alliances with people who create different types of evidence"
Good advice from @profkatsmith.bsky.social in the 'translating evidence into policy' plenary at #SSM2025
Good advice from @profkatsmith.bsky.social in the 'translating evidence into policy' plenary at #SSM2025
I'm at #SSM2025 in Bradford and will shortly be presenting some research looking at adolescent mental health emergency department attendances.
Some core descriptive epi methods applied to linked electronic health records covering the whole population of teens in a Scottish Health Board.
Some core descriptive epi methods applied to linked electronic health records covering the whole population of teens in a Scottish Health Board.
September 10, 2025 at 1:43 PM
I'm at #SSM2025 in Bradford and will shortly be presenting some research looking at adolescent mental health emergency department attendances.
Some core descriptive epi methods applied to linked electronic health records covering the whole population of teens in a Scottish Health Board.
Some core descriptive epi methods applied to linked electronic health records covering the whole population of teens in a Scottish Health Board.
It takes 10 click throughs to add money to my son's school lunch account:
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September 9, 2025 at 6:44 AM
It takes 10 click throughs to add money to my son's school lunch account:
Login >
Topup >
Child's name >
Add to basket >
Proceed to checkout >
Check out now >
Enter card details & continue to checkout summary >
Confirm payment >
Authorise on banking app >
Complete payment
Login >
Topup >
Child's name >
Add to basket >
Proceed to checkout >
Check out now >
Enter card details & continue to checkout summary >
Confirm payment >
Authorise on banking app >
Complete payment
@kris.to where do I sign up to make Matteo #KingOfTheVuelta?
September 5, 2025 at 4:55 PM
@kris.to where do I sign up to make Matteo #KingOfTheVuelta?
Reposted by Dr Will Ball
Can't wait for the wall-to-wall media coverage of What This Means, the endless thinkpieces about Green Party dominance in a working class community meaning Labour has to take their concerns seriously and pivot towards them, you know like we'd get if Reform had won.
Grangetown (Cardiff) Council By-Election Result:
🌍 GRN: 24.0% (+5.5)*
🌹 LAB: 22.7% (-24.8)
🌼 PLC: 18.7% (+0.2)*
➡️ RFM: 14.5% (New)
🐉 PRO: 9.6% (+0.1)
🙋 Ind: 4.6% (-2.1)
🌳 CON: 4.1% (-8.4)
🔶 LDM: 1.8% (-2.1)
No Ind (-1.4) as previous.
*joint cand. in 2024.
Green GAIN from Labour.
Changes w/ 2024.
🌍 GRN: 24.0% (+5.5)*
🌹 LAB: 22.7% (-24.8)
🌼 PLC: 18.7% (+0.2)*
➡️ RFM: 14.5% (New)
🐉 PRO: 9.6% (+0.1)
🙋 Ind: 4.6% (-2.1)
🌳 CON: 4.1% (-8.4)
🔶 LDM: 1.8% (-2.1)
No Ind (-1.4) as previous.
*joint cand. in 2024.
Green GAIN from Labour.
Changes w/ 2024.
August 15, 2025 at 7:58 AM
Can't wait for the wall-to-wall media coverage of What This Means, the endless thinkpieces about Green Party dominance in a working class community meaning Labour has to take their concerns seriously and pivot towards them, you know like we'd get if Reform had won.
Nothing hits the same as reading an abstract that reports only p values.
a close up of a robot 's face with the words cnbc behind it .
Alt: A close-up of an animatronic robots face. The robot is looking very confused.
media.tenor.com
August 7, 2025 at 12:30 PM
Nothing hits the same as reading an abstract that reports only p values.
"Health researchers should take debates about causation seriously because ... these debates shape the questions we ask, the methods we use, the narratives we construct about our study results, and therefore, the knowledge upon which we base our fights for the people's health!"
August 6, 2025 at 3:13 PM
"Health researchers should take debates about causation seriously because ... these debates shape the questions we ask, the methods we use, the narratives we construct about our study results, and therefore, the knowledge upon which we base our fights for the people's health!"