Mental Health Research Group at the University of Keele.

Background Mental health difficulties are the largest cause of disability in the United Kingdom. Our target area, the North-West (NW) Midlands, has a high burden of mental health conditions and multiple indices of deprivation, with high rates of poverty, unemployment, challenges in geography (rural or inner-city areas), being a member of a racially minoritised group. These factors often intersect so people live with multiple disadvantage. Some individuals with these disadvantages and mental health difficulties are further excluded due to services not being accessible or acceptable. Aims To establish a Centre for Community and Primary Care Mental Health Research at Keele University (KU) to deliver high quality mental health research responding to the needs of our currently under-served populations. To strengthen mental health research capacity at KU and within our partners and collaborators: community organisations; Integrated Care Systems; Mental Health Trusts; Local Authorities.? Objectives - To: Co-design, deliver and implement high quality, methodologically rigorous research addressing gaps in community and primary mental health care Build a critical mass of mental health research and Implementation Science at KU Develop a diverse range of methodological expertise to address current challenges in mental health research and meet the gaps at KU Improve the mental health of people across the NW Midlands, through robust Public Involvement, co-development and testing of novel interventions Leverage further grant funding from year 1? Methods With the University of Birmingham and King’s College London, our established partners, we will work with six community organisations, Integrated Care Boards and Midlands Partnership University Foundation Trust. We will focus on how community organisations and primary care services can better support people with mental health difficulties. We plan four programmes, building on existing expertise at KU and following consultation with our community partners: survey and data linkage, older adults, people with comorbid mental health difficulties and long-term physical health conditions, and people with complex emotional needs. Our Centre will address inequalities through an intersectional lens recognising that each under-served community in our region has different needs. Patient and Public Involvement and Implementation Science are integral to all aspects of our work. Priority will be given to increasing and sustaining research capacity at KU. Timeline for delivery Our Gantt chart (uploaded) demonstrates how we will deliver our planned research in the 5 years of the Centre. Knowledge Mobilisation, Dissemination and Impact In addition to dissemination through national and international conferences and academic publications, our public co-applicants, members of core research programme Public Advisory Groups and our community partners, will co-create an impact plan which will inform a comprehensive Knowledge Mobilisation/Dissemination strategy. Research Inclusion We will respect, embed and champion the rights, responsibilities, dignity, health and wellbeing of individuals through a sustained commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion, fostering a healthy research culture. We will embed these core values into the Centre’s decision-making processes and continue to take action to address under-representation in governance structures and research teams, embedding equity analysis in the Centre.