£11m boost for mental health research in community

Lancaster University has been awarded almost £11m to move mental health research into the community.

The university has been chosen as one of five newly created Mental Health Research Groups across England that will move research out of traditional clinical settings to work alongside residents "to develop a more proactive, preventative model of care".

It said more than 13,000 people in Lancashire and South Cumbria have been diagnosed with a severe mental illness, while Blackpool has the highest rate of deaths linked to addiction and suicide in England.

Clinical psychology professor Steven Jones, said the new groups would lead to "more accessible effective support".

In partnership with the University of Manchester and King's College London, the researchers will work to de-stigmatise mental health conditions and support and involve people who rarely take part in research.

They will explore ways to support people with severe and complex mental health needs, particularly mothers, and people suffering from substance abuse, while also encouraging attendance at GP health checks.

By embedding researchers within local community groups and primary care services, the initiative aims to reach people who have historically been under-represented, the university said.

Professor Lucy Chappell, chief scientific adviser at the Department of Health and Social Care said: "Mental health challenges can be isolating, especially for people in some of our most under-served regions.

"By moving our research focus out of traditional clinical settings and directly into the areas where people live and work, we are driving a fundamental shift toward a more preventative model of care in the community.

"We are committed to ensuring that the latest innovations and support reach those who need it most, long before they reach a crisis point."

The funding comes from a £55m investment by the National Institute for Health and Care Research.

Other universities that will host the new groups include Plymouth, Keele, Lincoln and Huddersfield.

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