The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) is investing nearly £55 million to establish five additional Mental Health Research Groups (MHRGs), further expanding its mental health research programme in England. This funding targets areas with high levels of mental ill-health and limited local research capacity, aiming to bring research closer to communities most in need.
According to the Mental Health Foundation, people living in the most deprived areas of England are 64% more likely to experience common mental health disorders than those in less deprived regions. The new MHRGs will focus on reducing inequalities in mental health provision, reaching groups that rarely participate in research, including mothers, people living in rural or coastal areas, and those with intellectual disabilities or complex emotional needs.
The research conducted by these groups will be embedded within local communities and guided by locally-identified mental health priorities. Applicants were required to demonstrate collaboration with community and patient groups, as well as other stakeholders, to ensure that research reflects real-world needs and lived experiences.
Professor Lucy Chappell, Chief Executive Officer of the NIHR, emphasized that bringing research out of traditional clinical settings into communities helps tackle isolation and promotes a preventative model of care. She highlighted the importance of ensuring innovations and support reach people before mental health challenges escalate to crisis points.
The MHRG programme, launched in 2023, aims to establish up to ten groups, each potentially receiving up to £11 million over five years. The programme prioritizes regions with high mental health need, low prior participation in research, and limited local research capacity. Previous awards were made to the University of Bath and the University of Hull, with partnerships across several leading institutions.
The five newly funded MHRGs will be based at the University of Plymouth, Keele University, University of Huddersfield, University of Lincoln, and Lancaster University. Each group will focus on locally relevant mental health challenges, such as supporting people who fall between service gaps, older adults, individuals with severe or complex mental health needs, and marginalized populations. Partnerships with other universities and NHS trusts will ensure that research is collaborative, practical, and community-centered.
Once operational, the new MHRGs will deliver applied mental health research designed to influence local services, guide policy, and shape practice. By embedding research within communities, the initiative aims to generate evidence with lasting impact, helping to reduce mental health inequalities and improve access to support in the areas that need it most.
