The UK government has launched a ‘Mental Health Mission’ with an investment of £42.7 million to accelerate research into mental health conditions, including those affecting children. The aim is to develop innovative treatments, improve diagnosis accuracy and speed, and utilize technology to free up time for clinicians.
The NHS reports that one in four adults and one in ten children experience mental illness, highlighting the importance of research in this area. By bolstering mental health research, millions of people across the country could potentially benefit.
The Mental Health Mission’s psychosis theme has received over £4 million in funding from the Office for Life Sciences. Dr. Sarah Sullivan from the University of Bristol, alongside Dr. Paola Fusar Poli from King’s College London, will co-lead the psychosis prediction workstream.
The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Mental Health Translational Research Collaboration, a network of leading investigators specializing in mental health research, will deliver the mission across the UK.
Last year, the government announced healthcare research priorities, including this mission, as part of its Life Sciences Vision. The mission adopts a vaccine task force approach to tackle major public health challenges. The government aims to leverage research expertise, streamline processes, strengthen partnerships, and support new healthcare challenges.
Dr. Sarah Sullivan, a Senior Research Fellow from Bristol Medical School‘s Centre for Academic Mental Health, expressed excitement about the endeavor. The funding will enhance psychosis research capacity and improve services for individuals with psychosis, one of the most debilitating and costly mental illnesses.
The funding aligns with the Prime Minister’s priorities, emphasizing patient-centered care and promoting innovation within the NHS.
Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay highlighted the significance of mental health, revealing that one in four adults in England is affected by it. He stated that the mission aims to enhance services and treatments for millions of patients. The government is collaborating with the NHS, industry experts, and healthcare professionals to fund cutting-edge research, including the development of apps and other technology to monitor patients remotely.
The funding will be utilized in various ways. It will support research to improve the treatment and care of individuals with mental illness, focusing on under-researched areas like early psychosis and mood disorders. Research on children and young people’s mental health will also be prioritized.
Furthermore, there will be an emphasis on using data and digital technologies to enable precise prevention and treatment targeting. Technology can be leveraged to monitor patients at home, freeing up clinician time and reducing waiting lists.
Two pilot sites in Birmingham and Liverpool, in collaboration with industry partners, will conduct research and stimulate investment. These sites will develop novel approaches that can be implemented in other locations.
Additionally, the mission aims to eliminate barriers for industry in delivering groundbreaking treatments for mental health conditions faster.
CEO of NIHR and Chief Scientific Advisor Professor Lucy Chappel believes that the investment in the Mental Health Mission will facilitate the development of innovative therapies and technologies that could significantly improve people’s lives. For example, this could include wellbeing apps, games, and services for early diagnosis of child mental health problems.
Professor Husseini Manji from the University of Oxford and Professor Kathryn Abel from the University of Manchester will co-chair the Mental Health Mission. They emphasize the mission’s collaborative nature involving the public sector, patients, and industry partners. By harnessing the size, scope, and data resources of the NHS and NIHR, the mission hopes to transform mental health research and treatment. It aspires for the UK to be a leading location for impactful mental health research and aims to provide access to the best and newest treatments.
The Mental Health Mission will create a revolutionary force in mental health research, fostering collaboration between various stakeholders. This collaborative effort is expected to make a tangible difference in the lives of patients in the UK and worldwide.