Multimillion pound research project to explore mental health in Essex

The University of Essex’s Institute for Public Health and Wellbeing (IPHW) has been awarded £2.5 million by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) to bolster research into mental health across Essex, Southend and Thurrock.

The award covers a five-year project which will see the research team work with the local community and mental health care providers in the region to understand what improvements can be made.

As part of the project, IPHW will appoint a new professor of mental health research, two new researchers and nine research students.

The team will partner up with King’s College London and the University of Cambridge throughout the project.

A key focus of research will look at loneliness and social isolation in young adults living in coastal communities.

Professor Susan McPherson said: “We already know that young adults, LGBT and ethnic minority youth are most disadvantaged in terms of accessing mental health care.

“Therefore, the first phase of research will focus on these groups.”

Professor McPherson added: “We are delighted to have been given this award by the NIHR and look forward to carrying out vital research into mental health in areas where the mental health need is greatest.

“This is a very important area of research which has so far been relatively unexplored in Essex.

“Our main aim is to engage with young people and the wider community to better understand their needs and the barriers they face to accessing support.”

The research team will analyse existing national survey data and carry out in-depth interviews with local residents.

Findings from the initial phase of research will inform a second phase which will involve co-designing solutions to the problems identified along with pilot work and evaluation.

This work forms part of the NIHR’s long-term vision to build capability and capacity in mental health research in specific geographical areas of high mental health need in the UK.

Professor Tamsin Ford from University of Cambridge said: “This is a fabulous opportunity to increase the focus on high quality mental health research in the East of England, which we are greatly looking forward to.”

Professor Craig Morgan from the Centre for Society and Mental Health at King’s College London said: “We are delighted to partner with colleagues at the University of Essex on this important award; and we very much look forward to working together to further develop much needed research on mental health in the East of England.”

• More information about the NIHR is available via its website