Research Mental Health

Mental health is everyone’s business. We all have times when we feel down, stressed or frightened. Most of the time these feelings pass. But sometimes they can develop into a more serious problem and that could happen to any one of us.

Some people are more vulnerable to mental illness, but normal life events such as bereavement, divorce and unemployment can leave us susceptible to mental health problems, including depression and anxiety.

1 in 4 of us will experience a mental health problem in the course of a year. That 's over 12 million people in the UK. Increased investment will change our understanding of mental illness and our ability to prevent and treat it. 

Show your support today. More research could change your life or that of someone you care about. Now and in the future. 

More research make sense... 

A trebling in mental health research investment is needed. Mental illness causes 15 per cent of the country’s disease burden but receives just 5 per cent of total health research spending. Around £74 million a year is spent on researching mental illness but for mental health research investment to match the impact mental illness has on people in terms of premature death and disability, we want to see this figure reach £200 million a year within the next 5 years. 

It’s our future we’re talking about... 

Poor mental health affects our ability to work, have fulfilling relationships as well as our physical health. As individuals, it can cost us a great deal. As a nation poor mental health costs us too, £100 billion a year in the UK. To bring these costs down, we need to get better at prevention and treatment. Not only will we save the economy money but good mental health leads to improved social cohesion and strong family relationships.

We need to work together... 

Mental illness is complex. It requires scientists and researchers to work together. It is not about one research method or model versus another. It's about finding out what treatments and solutions really can work to help people experiencing mental illness. No one type of scientist or researcher or organisation can do that alone but by joining forces real breakthroughs could be made, changing our understanding of mental illness and ability to prevent and treat it. 

Support the declaration...

Help us reach our target of 10,000 sign ups to show the Government, the National Health Service, funding bodies, research institutions, the pharmaceutical industry and the third sector that investment in mental health research is needed to reduce the social and economic damage caused by mental illness. 

Show your support today and together we can change the future of mental health.