According to government findings, poor mental health affects one in four people in England and costs the economy around £300bn per year.
To celebrate World Mental Health Day, which took place on 10th October, the government announced a new research programme worth £50m.
Set to be delivered over the next five years, the scheme aims to boost the development of more effective mental health treatments. To do this, the project is set to include people with lived experience of ill mental health.
The investment, which has been backed by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, is set to be used to set up a volunteer cohort which will be comprised of 20,000 people. Within the group, individuals health data will be used to provide a better understanding of how our biology links to our mental health.
Meanwhile, the investment will also be used to fun a new Industry Alliance Team to help mental health innovators gain access to clinical trials, research facilities and data.
Science Minister, Lord Vallance, said: ‘Mental health problems blight the lives of millions of people across the country. This isn’t something we should just accept. Scientific research has led to breakthroughs that are changing the game for physical problems, like cancer, and heart disease. We should be every bit as ambitious for what science can do in tackling mental health challenges as well.
‘That is why this funding matters and what our Plan for Change delivers. By making the right resources readily accessible we can look to a future where mental health is tackled faster, more precisely, and more effectively.’
News of the funding arguably couldn’t have come at a better time. The latest government figures show mental health conditions affect around one in four people in this country and are the leading cause of disability in the UK. What’s more, the economic cost is estimated at £300 billion a year, driven by lost productivity, unemployment and care needs.
Health Minister, Stephen Kinnock, added: ‘Too many people across Britain are struggling with poor mental health. It doesn’t have to be this way – and we’re determined to change it.’
‘That’s why we are building an NHS fit for the future, including by investing £50 million to back research into breakthrough treatments that could transform millions of lives through effective mental health support, tailored to their needs,’ Kinnock continued. ‘We are also hiring 8,500 extra mental health workers, delivering more talking therapies and providing better access to help through the NHS App through our 10 Year Health Plan.’
Professor Husseini Manji, Co-Chair of the Mental Health Goals programme, has welcomed the news with open arms.
‘With this landmark investment, we have the chance to do for mental health what has been done in other areas of medicine – turn cutting-edge science into real breakthroughs that change lives,’ Professor Manji, said. ‘By combining world-class research, powerful data, and the wisdom of lived experience, we will help develop novel therapies truly tailored to patients’ needs.’
Photo by Andre Taissin via UnSplash
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