Philanthropy at MQ
Become a major donor
What we do
MQ is an award-winning mental health research charity. We invest in scientific research all around the world, helping to create a future where mental illnesses are understood, effectively treated and one day prevented.
Our scientists investigate a huge range of issues: depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, eating disorders and more. We are bringing together everything from cutting-edge neuroscience to social studies to find the answers we need.
Our approach is international, interdisciplinary and collaborative. By connecting a community of supporters with a world-class network of experts, we are bringing real change to the millions of people affected by mental illness.
Within the last 10 years MQ has:
Funded research at 40 institutions globally through our grant programmes.
MQ has invested £30 million in supporting vital mental health research.
Funded or supported 65 research projects across six continents.
48% of MQ's studies have led to new treatments being developed.
For every £1 MQ has invested in supporting research an additional £5.78 has been generated.
Find out more in our 10-year Impact report.
Read more about MQ's achievements and impact from over the last 10 years.
Featuring interviews with researchers and supporters, information about research projects including the new treatments and interventions developed by MQ researchers and how we are transforming mental health.
What we need
There is an urgent need for more investment in mental health research.
We believe we can take major strides forward – but we need you at the heart of this transformation.
Through sustainable, long-term investment in cutting edge research, MQ enables talented researchers to better understand, treat and ultimately prevent mental illness. This would not be possible without the support of our major funders, like you, who share a commitment to transforming mental health.
Despite affecting 23% of the population, less than 6% of UK health research funding is spent on mental health. Support our work with a philanthropic gift and help us fund research that has the power to change lives for years to come.
Ways to support us/current opportunities
MQ Scholarship Programme
To continue to transform mental health, we need researchers passionate about using their expertise to benefit people’s lives. However, the percentage of mental health researchers leaving academia straight after completing their PhD may be as high as 70%. And under-representation in the sector’s senior levels is particularly stark for women and researchers from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Much of this exodus is due to under-funding and lack of career support. In June 2023, we launched the MQ Scholarship to support the best and brightest early career researchers across the world to stay in their fields, enabling future discoveries and breakthroughs by the next generation of sector leaders.
Mental Health Data Science
Mental health data science has huge potential in expanding our understanding of mental illness. Historically, however, mental health research has suffered from fragmentation and siloed working among academics and researchers in different disciplines and fields.
Join Our Network of MQ Supporters
By becoming a major donor, you will join our network of MQ supporters. You will receive regular updates on our work in the form of reports and news.
We will share the impact your support has on mental health research, and will invite you to exclusive events that connect you with our cause and celebrate our successes together.
We are incredibly grateful to all our supporters for helping us to shape the future of mental health research. We would like to thank all our major donors for their generosity and support.
Become a major donor
MQ is immensely grateful for all donations. Our definition of a Major Supporter is an individual who has pledged or given £5000 and above bi-annually in philanthropic support. By becoming a major donor for MQ Mental Health Research your support can have an enormous impact on the future for the 1 in 4 people impacted by mental illness.
Get in Touch
To find out more about our MQ supporter network and how you can get involved to shape the future of research, contact Natasha Rahman, Senior Philanthropy Manager: [email protected]