Centre for Mental Health Research
The effect of mental distress and illness on a global level is enormous, with an impact on individuals, their family and carers, and across communities from a social, cultural, and economic perspective.
Mental illness accounts for over 15% of the disease burden in developed countries, with at least 83 million people in the EU and nearly 17 million people in the UK affected by mental health problems. People of all ages can be affected with common mental disorders affecting about a quarter of middle aged adults. It is estimated that 20% of children have a mental health problem in any given year, and about 10% at any one time. The number of people with dementia in the UK is forecast to steadily increase to over 1 million by 2025.
Mental health problems are common in people living with a range of long-term physical health conditions such as coronary heart disease, cancer and diabetes and those with long-term mental illness are disproportionately likely to experience poor physical health and premature death.
In the Centre for Mental Health Research (CMHR) we undertake research that explores how best to deliver and improve mental health care. Our research addresses mental health care across the life span; in people with physical health and long-term conditions; across the full range of health and related services; and in the transitions between services. We also undertake research into the education and training of healthcare professionals.
Our research is conducted in collaboration with multidisciplinary health and social care staff, service users, carers and academic researchers to address the key challenges facing contemporary mental health service delivery. We have international partnerships with researchers in Australia, Italy, Denmark, Turkey and across the UK.
We have established an international reputation for the involvement of service users and carers in all aspects of the research process, particularly through our award-winning collaborative partnership with SUGAR: Service User and Carer Group Advising on Research.
The CMHR is also at the heart of the Joint Institute of Mental Health Nursing established in 2009 in partnership with East London NHS Foundation Trust (ELFT), to increase knowledge transfer and research utilisation in local services and to enable staff to maximise their potential in research and evidence-based practice. Leading clinical staff are funded by ELFT to undertake Masters level study and research projects under the supervision of experienced clinical and academic researchers in the CMHR.
The Centre consists of twenty two academic and research staff and seven doctoral students. The CMHR is engaged in current and recent projects to the value of over £7.6 million, and has produced research outputs including 70 peer-reviewed journal articles over the past five years.