In the news...
for January 2025
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from the Institute of Mental Health, Nottingham
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A Happy New Year to all our readers. We begin the year with a brief look back at some of the research highlights from the past 12 months, before we cast our sights to the months ahead.
We start 2025 with a number of opportunities to get involved in new conferences, awards, PhD programmes, research projects and even read a new novel!
Professor Martin Orrell
Director, Institute of Mental Health
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Institute of Mental Health - 2024 Roundup
Celebrating some of the exceptional work which took place in 2024
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BRIGhTMIND trial published results showing effective treatment for severe depression
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The BRIGhTMIND trial published findings in Nature Medicine. The study was led by Prof Richard Morriss and funded by the NIHR and the Medical Research Council (MRC).
The study used MRI and tracking to guide the delivery of magnetic stimulation to the brain via the scalp, to show that patients with severe depression or ‘treatment-resistant depression’ (TRD) could see their quality of life vastly improved and their symptoms ease for at least six months.
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Institute of Mental Health Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement Training Programme launched
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In November we launched our new, CPD accredited training programme for PPIE. This programme has been designed to increase knowledge of active researchers and colleagues in health and care research and provide time for you to build your collective confidence in a shared learning space.
Dates for the next 5 week course are 5th March - 2nd April. Express your interest in joining the course using this online form.
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Mindtech announced as one of the new HealthTech Research Centre's funded by NIHR
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The NIHR awarded funding to establish 14 HRCs across England that will drive life-changing research into health technologies, MindTech being one of them.
The HRC scheme replaces the successful NIHR Medtech and In Vitro Diagnostic Co-operative (MIC) scheme which ended in March 2024.
Find out more information on the NIHR website
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The World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Centre for Mental Health, Disability and Human Rights based at the IMH was re-designated for another four years in April 2024.
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The successful re-designation builds on the work led by Prof Peter Bartlett and Prof Martin Orrell to support the WHO in its efforts in improving mental health and human rights around the world. This includes managing the global MindBank database of mental health laws and policies, advising the WHO and its associated countries on mental health law, and leading on the development of guidance for good practice and human rights in dementia services across the world.
Learn more about the WHO Collaboration on the Institute website.
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NEON-O Trial research published in the World Psychiatry
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The NEON study led by Prof Mike Slade’s Recovery Research Team, and funded by the NIHR developed the NEON Intervention web application which is home to a collection of more than 600 recorded mental health recovery narratives.
They investigated whether adults experiencing mental health problems but with no history of psychosis benefitted from having access to the platform.
Read their findings in World Psychiatry.
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Research in Molecular Psychiatry, showing that male violent offenders with antisocial personality disorder have a significant reduction in striatal glutamate/GABA ratio
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Dr John Tully, Clinical Associate Professor in Forensic Psychiatry at University of Nottingham, published a paper titled ‘Impaired striatal Glutamate/GABA regulation in violent offenders with antisocial personality disorder and psychopathy’.
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The QbTest, from the AQUA-Trial, could revolutionise ADHD diagnosis, following recommendation from NICE
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The AQUA-Trial, which was undertaken by members of the Institute, Prof Chris Hollis, Prof Maddie Groom, and Dr Charlotte Hall back in 2014-2016, investigated whether an objective computerised test, the ‘QbTest’ measuring a patient’s attention and impulsivity, could help improve the assessment of ADHD.
Read the NICE recommendation.
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The Midlands Mental Health and Neurosciences Doctoral Training Programme have released their list of 2025 PhD projects for practicing healthcare professionals, with many of the opportunities available at the University of Nottingham
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The Midlands Mental Health & Neurosciences PhD Programme is led by the University of Nottingham, in collaboration with University of Birmingham, University of Leicester, and University of Warwick, and local NHS Trusts in the Midlands. The Doctoral Training Programme (DTP) aims to create and sustain a collaborating clinical-academic ecosystem to address the key contemporary mental health challenges. PhDs are funded by the generous contribution of Wellcome in collaboration with DTP universities.
PhD opportunities available with supervisors connected to the Institute of Mental Health
View the full list of available projects on the Midlands MHN DTP website.
If you are unsure of whether any of the opportunities are for you, you can attend their online informational webinar session on January 22nd, see more information in the events section below.
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New paper published on The Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health 'Cultivating participatory processes in self-harm app development: A case-study and working methodology'
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Written by the Digital Youth research team, part of the NIHR HRC MindTech, the paper looks at the increase of self-harm and suicide related behaviours in young people and how the CaTS-App (an adapted digital version of the existing Card-Sort Task for Self-harm research tool) aims to facilitate a collaborative understanding of adolescent self-harm and support decision-making within clinical settings.
Read the paper on ACAMH online here.
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Professor Paul Crawford's book 'The Wonders of Doctor Bent' is out in February
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The twisted literary thriller delves into criminal accountability and mental health and has already received numerous glowing reviews ahead of its release.
"A beautifully written and engaging psychological thriller that will keep you thinking long after the final page."
- Dr David Crepaz-Keay, Mental Health Foundation
Pre-order or purchase the book on Waterstones.
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Yasu Kotera’s new book “Writing Research Articles in Mental Health: Tips and Mental Strategies on How to Keep Publishing in International Journals” has been published and is available at bookstores across Japan.
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This book presents easy-to-understand tips and mental strategies for consistently publishing papers, undeterred by harsh criticism and internal politics.
Order a copy of the book on Amazon Japan.
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Refocus on Recovery conference abstract submission is open
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The 7th Refocus on Recovery conference is happening in September 2025
and the call for abstracts is open.
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IMH Publication Awards 2024 open
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The award categories for this year's competition are:
A. Best overall publication
B. Best publication when the author has published no more than six previous publications
C. Best publication flowing from work during doctoral studies or as part of a doctoral dissertation
D. Best publication by an employee of Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust who does not have a substantive contract with a university
E. Best publication by an employee of the Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust or the University of Nottingham, co-authored with a person with lived experience of mental distress or a current or former user of mental health services
And this year we are launching a new award category
F. Communicating research award – Best example of communicating research to the general public by a person with a lived experience of mental health
More information about the awards and all the category criteria is available on the IMH website.
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PROSPER (Psychological therapy Readiness and resourcing in Oncology – Support to Promote an Enhanced Response) has started recruiting participants.
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The study is led by Dr Sam Malins, funded by East Midlands Cancer Alliance and NIHR ARC East Midlands and supported by the research team at the University of Nottingham and University of Lincoln. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a Therapy Preparation Intervention – a one-time clinician-led session followed by automated smart messaging – for adult patients in cancer care awaiting psychological therapy for moderate-to-severe depression. The researchers are particularly interested to see how it affects patients’ depressive symptoms, quality of life, and therapy dropout rates.
To find out more visit the NIHR trial page, or reach out to study researchers prosper@nottingham.ac.uk if you would like to get involved.
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The Art of Mental Stealth by Jo Lockwood, Ignite!, Sealight Studios, Outburst and Confetti
Opening night event: Wednesday 22nd January 2025, 17:00 - 19:00
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The Art of Mental Stealth… a comic approach was a project that thought creatively about how to deliver mental health messaging and interventions for young people in Nottingham, by nurturing creative skills in visual storytelling as a bridge to self-awareness, expression and shared understanding.
The project kickstarted a city-wide conversation exploring intersections between comics/graphic novels and mental health interventions, the therapeutic potential of creation, and how young artists are already merging these worlds.
In this exhibition the team document their discussions and showcase work from creative projects, including documenting the creative process of developing a comic on the topic of mental health and what was involved in translating the story and words provided by young people at Outburst into illustrated pages by graphics students at Confetti.
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The Midlands MHN DTP are hosting a virtual information session for potential applicants.
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📅 Wednesday 22nd January 2025, 18:00 - 19:30
📍 Online via MS Teams🎟️ Free to attend, but your place must be registered
This virtually hosted information session is designed for Healthcare Professionals in the Midlands who are interested in gaining a more in-depth understanding of the programme and its offerings.
The session will conclude with a Q&A, providing attendees the opportunity to address any queries they may have.
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Hidden in Plain Sight: research and clinical update on ADHD in girls and women
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📅 Wednesday 27th March 2025, 09:30 - 15:00
📍 Jubilee Conference Centre🎟️ £40 *Support with entry fee can be provided on an ad-hoc basis
📥 More information on the Institute website
Join ADHD specialists and researchers at the Hidden in Plain Sight Conference - for a deep dive into gender differences in ADHD.
Morning insights: Dynamic presentations from top researchers, clinicians, and women with lived experience
Networking lunch: Connect with peers, exchange ideas, and build collaborations
Afternoon collaboration: Interactive workshops focusing on priority setting for future research and clinical practice, empowering participants to influence the direction of gender-specific ADHD care directly
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The Art of Mental Stealth and Making Connections
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📅 Wednesday 22nd January, 17:00 - 19:00
📍 Institute of Mental Health🎟️ Free, but your place must be reserved
📥 More information on the IMH website
Celebrate the launch of the new comics-inspired exhibition featuring artwork from two recent projects around mental health The Art of Mental Stealth…a comic approach, and Making Connections 2024 which resulted in the creation of a graphic novel 'Crooked Seams' .
You will hear from project coordinators and collaborators about potential next steps for collaborations around comics, zines and mental health. You will have an early chance to browse the exhibition artworks and read Crooked Seams, as well as join in with a zine making workshop.
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4th UK and Ireland Mental Diversity Law Conference
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📅 3rd and 4th July 2025
📍 Jubilee Campus, University of Nottingham, NG8 1BB🎟️ Full: £295
Student and Concessionary: £145
Registration opens 12th February 2025, more details will be released soon.
Conference themes: The future of Mental Health Law.
Topics include:
Neurodivergence, BAME communities, social care and the law for children and young people,
Call for academic papers
If you would like to share your academic research at the conference please submit a summary of what your research is about
Academic papers can now be submitted online for the 2025 conference.
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7th international Refocus on Recovery conference
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📅 4th and 5th September 2025
📍 Crowne Plaza, Nottingham, NG1 5RH🎟️ Two days in person: £300
Concession: £150
Online: £60
📥 More information on the Institute website
The conference will be organised around three themes, developed with the event partners:
Theme 1 – The role of lived experience in embedding and supporting recovery
Theme 2 – New perspectives around mental health and recovery
Theme 3 – Extending recovery beyond mental health
Abstracts can now be submitted online for the 2025 conference.
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We would love to hear from you.
Please visit our website or follow us on our social media pages to
keep up to date with our news and updates. |
The Institute of Mental Health brings together healthcare staff and academics to lead mental health research designed to improve diagnosis, treatment, and care. We are a partnership between two highly respected organisations, Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Nottingham. |
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@institutemh institutemh.org.uk
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