Leeds Beckett supporting new Mental Health Networks

The new networks will embrace a collaborative ethos, bringing together researchers from a wide range of disciplines, including health, medicine, biology, social sciences, humanities and environmental sciences.

Many of the networks will also include insight from charity workers, health practitioners and people with lived experience of mental health issues.

The networks, which are supported with £8 million of funding and will be funded for four years (one for three), will progress mental health research into themes such as the profound health inequalities for people with severe mental ill health, social isolation, youth and student mental health, domestic and sexual violence, and the value of community assets.

One of the eight funded networks is ‘MARCH’ - Social, Cultural and Community Assets for Mental Health.

Community assets such as the arts, heritage sites, libraries, parks, allotments, volunteer associations and community groups can play a huge role in building resilient individuals and communities.

The MARCH network will bring researchers together with policymakers, commissioners and third-sector organisations to further understand how these social, cultural and community assets can enhance public mental health and wellbeing, prevent mental illness and support those living with mental health conditions.

The network is led by Dr Daisy Fancourt (UCL) and will include academics from universities across the country, including Professor Jane South, from Leeds Beckett’s School of Health.

She said: “The MARCH programme addresses the growing interest in the contribution of community assets for health.

“This is a major theme of my Healthy Communities work at Leeds Beckett and I am thrilled to be joining a multidisciplinary team of leading academics to develop this emerging research field.”

Professor Sir Mark Walport, Chief Executive of UKRI said: “Mental ill health is the single largest cause of disability in the UK, and it is estimated that almost a quarter of the country’s population are affected by mental health issues each year.

“The UKRI Mental Health Networks will take a new approach to addressing this challenge by bringing together researchers across a wide range of disciplines with people who have experienced mental health issues, charities, health practitioners and other organisations.