Researchers from the GW4 Alliance have been awarded £11 million to establish a Mental Health Research Group (MHRG), which aims to address the urgent mental health needs of the region and increase capacity for applied research.
The MHRG, led by the University of Bath, in partnership with the universities of Bristol and Exeter, will focus on tackling the mental health challenges experienced by young people in Bath, North-East Somerset, Swindon, and Wiltshire, with a focus on four key research areas:
- Evaluating and implementing digital treatments for young people experiencing depression and anxiety
- Improving mental health treatment for young people who have additional needs such as autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
- Developing new ways to reduce the harm smoking, drinking and drug use may cause to mental health.
- Finding ways to help young people who have had difficult early experiences, to stop this leading to poor mental health when they get older.
Children and young people, aged 12-25, will have the opportunity to help shape the research agenda, in partnership with local NHS services, schools, colleges, charities and social care. They will contribute to designing research activities as well as taking part in studies as participants.
Dr Pamela Jacobsen, Director of the University of Bath Mental Health Research Group, said: “We’re focusing on prevention and early intervention because we know most mental health difficulties start in childhood and people often do not receive the help they need, at the time they need it. Our focus is on supporting key transitional periods in a young person’s life as they become young adults and experience important life events such as starting university, entering the workforce, leaving home, or forming new relationships. These are crucial times in their lives and by providing good mental health support can help people stay on the right trajectory and help them build healthier futures.”
The Bath MHRG will team up with experts and research leaders from the University of Bristol and the University of Exeter to deliver this research.
Professor Paul Moran, Professor of Psychiatry at the Bristol Medical School said: “We are thrilled to be working in partnership with our colleagues at the universities of Bath and Exeter, as part of the new £11m Mental Health Research Group. The University of Bristol is committed to conducting high-quality research, in the field of mental health, and this new Group will allow us to further harness our expertise in order to improve outcomes and research into young people’s mental health across the region.”
Professor Barney Dunn, Professor of Clinical Psychology, Mood Disorders Centre, said: “The University of Exeter is ideally placed to partner with the universities of Bath and Bristol as part of the new Mental Health Research Group. Our expertise in developing, evaluating and implementing novel methods and technologies, designed to improve wellbeing and functioning across a range of mental health conditions, clearly lends itself to improving mental health research for young people and addressing the needs of the region.”
Research into mental health is an area of complementary strength between the GW4 universities, with a focus on improving mental health outcomes forming a core component of GW4’s strategic priority of advancing health and wellbeing research and innovation for all.
Dr Joanna Jenkinson MBE, GW4 Alliance Director, said: “With over 200 members across the Alliance involved in our Mental Health Research Network, we share a vision for how research can drive improvement in mental health outcomes. We are delighted to see this partnership, led by the University of Bath, in conjunction with GW4 member institutions, Bristol and Exeter, which aims to build long-term, collaborative relationships, enhance knowledge-exchange and deliver better lives for young people."
This transformative funding, provided by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), is part of a larger £27 million investment spread across nine regions in England.
- This funding us a part of a larger Mental Health Research Initiative from NIHR, which aims to establish up to 10 new Mental Health Research Groups in areas of the country where there is currently very little mental health research taking place.
With over 200 members across the Alliance involved in our Mental Health Research Network, we share a vision for how research can drive improvement in mental health outcomes. We are delighted to see this partnership, led by the University of Bath, in conjunction with GW4 member institutions, Bristol and Exeter, which aims to build long-term, collaborative relationships, enhance knowledge-exchange and deliver better lives for young people."
