UK Research And Innovation Launches New Mental Health Networks

Eight new Mental Health Networks have been announced by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) today, Thursday 06 September 2018, to bring researchers, charities and other organisations together to address important mental health research questions.

The new Networks will embrace a collaborative ethos, bringing together researchers from a wide range of disciplines, including health, medicine, biology, social sciences, humanities and environmental sciences. Many of the networks will also include insight from charity workers, health practitioners and people with lived experience of mental health issues.

The new £8m Networks, funded by UKRI and the Government’s modern Industrial Strategy for four years (one for three), will progress mental health research in themes such as the profound health inequalities for people with severe mental ill health, social isolation, youth and student mental health, domestic and sexual violence, and the value of community assets.

Business Secretary Greg Clark said: “Mental health problems can strike at any time which can lead to fear and isolation, with one in four of us experiencing a mental health problem every year.

“The Government is transforming its approach to mental health and has committed record levels of investment to research, support and treatment. These new Mental Health networks are another step forward in bringing leading public and private organisations together to better understand the causes, develop new treatments and tackle social isolation.”

Professor Sir Mark Walport, Chief Executive of UK Research and Innovation, said: “Mental ill health is the single largest cause of disability in the UK, and it is estimated that almost a quarter of the country’s population are affected by mental health issues each year.

“The UKRI Mental Health Networks will take a new approach to addressing this challenge by bringing together researchers across a wide range of disciplines with people who have experienced mental health issues, charities, health practitioners and other organisations. Through their work, the new Networks will further our understanding about the causes, development and treatments of a wide range of mental health issues.”