Improving mental health research for underserved communities

A new programme led by UCL researchers will tackle barriers to mental health and care research participation for underserved staff and communities in East London and Essex, seeking to ensure research advances benefit everyone. The three-year programme, 'Mental Health Research for All', based at the NIHR ARC North Thames, has been awarded £750K funding from the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR). Evidence shows that communities living in the most disadvantaged areas of England have some of the highest numbers of people affected by poor mental health. People living in parts of East London and Essex experience higher rates of mental health conditions, serious mental illness and suicide compared to the rest of the country. However, they are less likely to use mental health services, have poorer access to high-quality care, and are underrepresented in mental health research. Staff who work in mental health are also unequally represented, and there is a need to improve research opportunities for allied health and community staff. The 'Mental Health Research for All' programme aims to understand and overcome barriers to mental health and care research participation for underserved staff, and communities living with mental health conditions, in parts of East London and Essex.