Research unit to bring evidence to forefront of mental health policy

UCL and King's College London are leading the establishment of a new policy research unit, the NIHR Mental Health Policy Research Unit, which will bring mental health researchers, clinicians, service users and carers closer together. The main aim of the unit is to provide research to inform policy makers. Commissioned by the  Department of Health through the NIHR's Policy Research Programme following an open competition, the policy research unit will be hosted at UCL, jointly led by UCL and King's, alongside researchers from City, University of London and Middlesex University. It is funded at a cost of £5m for five years. "Across the health care system, we know more about what works than what we actually put into practice, as policy makers don't always have the latest research findings readily available. We are putting together a responsive core team, and building up a broader network of experts who will ensure that policy makers will have access to the most comprehensive and up-to-date evidence to guide their plans," said Professor Sonia Johnson (UCL Psychiatry), the director of the unit. The research unit will be focusing on prevention, access and quality of mental health care, by conducting research on the impact of existing policies and to guide future plans, as well as by providing expert advice in a timely manner.