Mental health research group to be part of vital £2.5m project

Posted on 16 October 2024

A new project will address “the biggest mental health challenges and research gaps affecting our region”.

The University of York’s Mental Health and Addiction Research Group (MHARG) will be part of a new £2.5m project to build infrastructure, capacity and capability in applied mental health research in the north-east of England.

Support

The award, funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), will support researchers in MHARG, Teesside University and Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust.

Professor Peter Coventry, from the University of York, said: “As the lead of the Mental Health and Addiction Research Group at the University of York, we will foster collaborations with regional health and social care organisations and provide mentorship to build research capacity. This is with the aim to propel transformative mental health research that directly tackles the needs of underserved populations.

“This will catalyse growth in mental health research in the North East, addressing both local and systemic inequalities.”

Importance

The project will be led by Professor Emma Giles of Teesside University’s School of Health and life sciences. She says the prevalence of mental health conditions in the Tees Valley area gives the project a particular importance.

“By identifying mental health research priorities, we begin a targeted approach to addressing some of the biggest mental health challenges and research gaps affecting our region,” she said.

“The vision is to build upon Teesside University’s work as an anchor institution in the Tees Valley and support our local community as a leading NIHR Mental Health Research Group.”

And Professor David Ekers, Clinical Director for Research and Development at Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust, added: “This award will grow research that meets the needs of our communities and help improve health outcomes for Teesside and beyond in the years to come.”