The National Institute for Health Research has funded over 100 new mental health projects for areas that have less research infrastructure and research funding projects.
The funding, which was secured back in June last year, came after the publication of the 2020/21 Spending Review.
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and the NIHR announced their new rapid Mental Health Research Initiative in response to the review in order to help tackle the inequalities between the level of mental health research activity and regional needs.
In August, £30 million in investment, marking NIHR’s largest-ever funding for UK mental health research, was injected into the initiative.
The initiative focuses on regions and groups where mental health is most needed, this included children and young people (CYP) and ethnic minorities.
Professor Lucy Chappell, Chief Executive of the NIHR and Chief Scientific Adviser to the Department of Health and Social Care, said: “This significant investment builds on the world-class research already taking place across the NIHR, increasing our capacity to undertake high quality mental health research across our programmes, infrastructure and schools.
“By supporting high quality mental health research in under-served areas of England and in groups where mental health problems are less well researched, we will make a difference to the communities and patients most affected by mental health issues.”
The Mental Health Research Initiative has also funded projects between the NIHR School for Public Health Research, School for Primary Care Research and School for Social Care Research.
The collaboration will assess pre-existing community-based treatments for mental health support research projects.
