A new report, from MQ and Rethink Mental Illness, has outlined the 10 step changes that need to be made in order to remove the barriers to research and transform mental health.
The report ha been written following an extensive consultation with different stakeholders including researchers, research funders and people with lived and living experience of mental illness.
1. Make it easier for people to take part.
Taking part or co-producing research should be simple and accessible, including though NHS studies, community settings or through trusted organisations.
Find out how you can get involved in research by joining MQ's LERN network here.
2. Increase funding for mental health research.
Mental health research is dramatically underfunded when compared to physical health. In fact, an MQ study found that for every person affected by mental illness only £9 was spent on research. In comparison, £228 was spent per person impacted by cancer - a whopping 25 times more.
3. Build capacity across the NHS to support research.
Supporting research infrastructures, particularly by facilitating NHS-based clinical studies, will accelerate the development of new treatments.
4. Tackle stigma preventing people from being offered research opportunities.
Stigmas still persist and can lead to some GP's, clinicians and other medical professionals thinking that patients are 'too ill' to get involved in research studies. Unless someone has been judged to lack the capacity to decide, patients should be given information about trials they could participate in and the opportunity to decide for themselves
5. Make mental health research an attractive career.
Lack of funding and career progression in mental health research often puts early career researchers off. Instead, they move into other areas of research where there are clearer career pathways. Longer-term funding, fair pay and job security would help to grow the research workforce.
Find out how MQ is supporting early career researchers through our Fellows programme.
Listen to the podcast episode where Professor Rory O'Connor speaks to Rethinks Deputy CEO Brian Dow, Lived Experience expert Aphra Tulip-Briggs and MQ's own research lead Mariana Bolivar on the ten steps outlines by this report.
6. Build public trust in how data is used.
Many people are concerned about sharing their personal data with research organisations, particularly information about their mental health. Making it clear how data is used, and it's potential to help others, will to build trust.
7. Prioritise prevention and early intervention.
75% of mental illnesses develop in childhood. Early intervention and prevention measures can ensure that children can live happier, healthier lives. We need more research so that we can better spot the early warning signs of mental illness and improve support services so that people can actually access care.
8. Turn research breakthroughs into real world change.
It can take up to 10 years for scientific discoveries to translate into practice, sometimes longer. Better communication with policy makers and decision makers can accelerate progress to improve treatments and services sooner.
9. Use a wider range of research methods.
We all know that once size does not fit all, so why would it be any different for research? Traditional clinical trials are not always the best approach for mental health. Flexible, community-based studies can make participating in research easier and in a setting that better reflects reality.
10. Strengthen collaboration across the whole sector.
Everyone has a role to play in enabling impactful mental health research. By breaking down silos, we can ensure that everyone works together to transform mental health research.
