Mental health at the top of Wales’ agenda
Living with a mental health issue can be an isolating experience. But the National Centre for Mental Health is aiming to understand more about these conditions by conducting extensive research...
Today one in four people in the UK is living with a mental health problem. That’s almost 15 million people with an illness affecting their wellbeing and relationships, and for some, their ability to work and lead an independent life.
Living with mental illness can be an isolating experience, and negative stereotypes and a lack of understanding in society can help perpetuate this.
There is still a great deal to learn about the causes of mental ill-health, as well as how best to treat and support sufferers. When compared to the extraordinary advances in treating physical health conditions, it is clear there’s a lot of catching up to do.
In terms of research, it hasn’t been a level playing field. Analysis by MQ, a UK-wide mental health research charity, shows that despite mental health representing a high burden of illness in the UK, just 5.8% of health research spending is focused in this area.
“Research is key to improving outcomes for the millions of people affected by a mental illness,” said Professor Ian Jones, director of the National Centre for Mental Health (NCMH).
“Without detracting from the seriousness of conditions like cancer, dementia or cardiovascular disease, a more equitable distribution of funding would be helpful in improving the lives of those affected by mental illness.”
The NCMH is a research group funded by the Welsh Government through Health and Care Research Wales. The centre brings together leading mental health researchers from Cardiff, Swansea and Bangor universities. “We use a variety of research techniques to examine the complex interplay between social, psychological and biological factors that influence an individual’s risk of experiencing a mental health problem,” explains Prof Jones. “By understanding how these areas interact and overlap, we hope to help develop more effective treatments and
Mimprove diagnosis in the future.
“There could also be other benefits too, like better informing government policy – not just in health and social care, but also the criminal justice system, education and the economy.”
More than 7,000 people have already taken part in the centre’s research and the team are aiming to recruit a further 1,000 volunteers by the end of the year.
“One of our major long-term aims is to change the research culture in health and social care services in Wales, with the ultimate goal being a situation where every individual accessing care is invited to participate in research,” said Prof Jones. One of the main sources of recruitment for the Centre has been through its “research champions” – people with personal experience of a mental health problem who have taken part in research and signed up to help encourage others to come forward.
Kathryn Murray, a clinical trials pharmacist at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff, recently took part in the study and volunteered to become a research champion.
Kathryn, who has battled depression for many years, said: “I heard about NCMH on Twitter and was interested in helping with the research. I completed an online survey on my phone, which was really straightforward and only took around 15 minutes. I was later invited to take part in a face-to-face interview and give a blood sample. The researchers were very friendly, great listeners and very sympathetic.”
As well as depression, NCMH focuses on bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD, ADHD and learning disability.
If you would like to help with this research, you can take part online at www.ncmh.info. Or you can take part in person – call 029 2068 8401 for more information.