Mental Health Research UK: supporting excellence in mental health research

Welcome to Mental Health Research UK

STOP PRESS: Campaign for 1000 supporters
Mental Health Research UK is aiming to recruit 1000 supporters willing to pledge £10-£20 a month in support of the first charity dedicated to funding research into the causes of and cures for mental illness.
With gift aid this will bring in at least £150,000 each year.
If you would like to become one of our first 1000 supporters and can help in this way,
please contact trustees@mentalhealthresearchuk.org.uk for details.

Did you know:

1 in 4 people will suffer from a mental illness at some point in their lives

30% of visits to GPs relate to mental ill-health?

3 out of 10 people take mental health related sick leave every year?

Over 90 million working days a year are lost through mental health problems?

Mental ill health costs the UK economy nearly £80 billion per year?

Despite the huge impact of mental ill health on individuals and the economy, mental health research receives only a fraction of the funding that supports research into other long-term chronic diseases.

The Department of Health has highlighted some of the areas that need additional research funding but, as always, resources are limited. This initiative is designed to address the gaps in existing funding by establishing a specific charity to support mental health research. Registration with the Charities Commission was completed in August 2008. Our charity number is 1125538.

Our aim is to work with other charities and bodies involved in mental health to fund research into:

The underlying causes of mental ill health
Treatments for mental health problems

We also aim to invest in building research capacity through awards to support PhD students and post-doctoral researchers.

Request for Support

The people involved include barristers John Grace QC and Dr Laura Davidson and Professor Clair Chilvers, Chair of Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust and former Director of the Mental Health Research and Development Portfolio at the Department of Health. A number of leading researchers in the field are advising on the development of the initiative which also has the support of the Royal College of Psychiatrists.

We have recently won support from two charitable trusts to support a market test and the development of a fundraising plan.

Further information

For further information, or to pledge support, please contact
Professor Clair Chilvers, John Grace QC or Dr Laura Davidson
by sending an email to trustees@mentalhealthresearchuk.org.uk.

	Mental Health Research UK is a new charity to raise funds for research into mental illnesses, their causes and cures