In the news...
for April 2025
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from the Institute of Mental Health, Nottingham
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This year the Institute will host its 12th Research Day, our yearly opportunity to showcase the emerging research, new findings and creative thinking from the early career researchers affiliated to the IMH. As usual a plenary speaker will be bringing some expert insights to the day, and this year I am delighted to be welcoming Professor Matthew Broome, an academic psychiatrist and Director of the Institute for Mental Health at the University of Birmingham.
Registration for the Research Day is now open so please reserve your seat, or if you are affiliated to the IMH please read through the submission criteria and send us your poster or oral abstracts for consideration.
I look forward to seeing many of you there on the day,
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Professor Martin Orrell
Director, Institute of Mental Health
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We're delighted to congratulate Dr Charlotte Hall (NIHR MindTech Health Tech Research) for being awarded one of the first ever NIHR Impact Prizes. These awards recognise major improvements in health over the last two decades, driven by research and scientific advances. These have been awarded to researchers and teams who have had a major impact on the health and wealth of the nation, and globally, and have maximised the impact of their research by improving people’s lives. Charlotte has been awarded one of the 5 early-career researcher awards for research to show how using a computer assessment tool (QbTest) can increase the speed and efficiency of ADHD assessment for children and young people.
Read the full story on the awards on the Institute website
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Professor Elvira Perez Vallejos joins Channel 4 News for social media addictiveness discussion
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Professor Perez Vallejos spoke about the effects of smart phone use on teen mental health during a segment discussing a pilot project being rolled out in schools in Kent. The project showcased a drama workshop about the dangers of smart phones and encouraged a group of teenagers to give up their smart phones for a week.
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As part of the Institute’s Black Lives Matter programme Professor Martin Orrell supervised the development and completion of the paper which surveyed 109 Black psychiatrists, asking them about racism, microaggressions, bullying, career progression and mental well-being.
The study found that:
- 57% faced workplace microaggressions
- 40% experienced workplace bullying
- 43% reported a detrimental impact on their mental health
- 32% had considering quitting their position.
These experiences are unacceptable and can be traumatic. Collective action is needed to drastically improve the workplace environment, including the widespread institutional adoption of an anti-discriminatory stance to improve equality and reduce discrimination.
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At the end of March Dr Danny Whiting joined colleagues Prof Seena Fazel, Ian Callaghan from Rethink Mental Illness, and Dr Artemis Igoumenou, to host an online training event for the Royal College of Psychiatrists on "Risk Assessment in Psychiatry."
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Professor Kapil Sayal (member of our Centre for ADHD and Neurodevelopmental Disorders across the lifespan) has been appointed as an NIHR Senior Investigator for a second term from April 2025
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Senior Investigators are among the most prominent and prestigious researchers funded by the NIHR (National Institute for Health and Care Research) and help guide research capacity development and enhance the career paths of other NIHR researchers. NIHR Senior Investigator awards are a testament to the superb research support, infrastructure, and environment that the IMH provides for service-facing clinical research. Congratulations Kapil!
Read the press release about Kapil's news on the University website.
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Congratulations to Dr Blandine French and Senior Research Fellow Joanna Lockwood for their nominations in the University of Nottingham Institute for Policy and Engagement Rising Star category!
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The annual awards recognise the outstanding work by University of Nottingham researchers in achieving policy impact and engaging the public with current research. Both Blandine and Jo were nominated for the 'Rising Star Award: Public Engagement'.
This award is presented to a member of staff in the early stages of an academic or research-only career who has engaged the public with their research to generate mutual benefit.
Find out more information about the award here.
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Dr Blandine French was quoted in a variety of news articles in March discussing a newly published paper on the impact of ADHD related content on TikTok
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The social media platform TikTok has seen an increase in diagnosis related content particularly around ADHD, leading to the spread of misinformation, users self diagnosing and greater challenges faced by those with ADHD.
In one of the quoted articles, Blandine said “Social media can be a great source of support but shouldn’t be a place for diagnosis as it is not made for this. It should be used alongside other more reliable methods, sources and information.” Blandine's quotes were featured in the Science Media Centre, The Times and BristolPost.
Read the full paper Blandine was referencing 'A double-edged hashtag: Evaluation of #ADHD-related TikTok content and its associations with perceptions of ADHD' led by researchers from the University of British Columbia, Canada.
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Experts from the Institute will lead research designed to improve brain function for patients with a range of mental health conditions
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Co-Directors of the Institute’s Centre for Translational Neuroscience, Professor Marcus Kaiser and Dr Mohammad Katshu, have received £2.4m funding from a Medical Research Programme Grant. The five-year long project will begin in mid-2025, alongside the launch of the University’s new science research centre, the Centre for Neurotechnology, Neuromodulation, and Neurotherapeutics (N3). The project will test a series of non-invasive brain stimulation interventions for a wide range of patients with mental health conditions including depression, schizophrenia, and Tourette’s syndrome.
Read more about the grant on the Institute website.
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Director of the Centre for Social Futures, Professor Paul Crawford, has released his book 'The Wonders of Doctor Bent' |
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His novel has been described as 'a gripping tale of murder, revenge, and lost trust' and is available to purchase from a variety of book retailers, including Waterstones. During the press tour, Paul hosted an evening talk at the Nottingham Central Library about how books can save lives, and how writing and being creative can support mental health.
Paul was also recently interviewed for Nottingham based local culture magazine LeftLion about his book, his relationship with books and his journey to becoming an author. You can read his full interview in the April magazine on page 48.
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Submissions are now being accepted for the IMH 2025 Open Arts Exhibition based on the theme of "Community"
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The IMH 2025 Open Arts Exhibition will showcase the talents of artists and makers, young and old, taking inspiration from the 2025 Mental Health Awareness Week theme of “Community”.We flourish when we have meaningful connections with others and communities that remind us, we are not alone. Communities offer a sense of belonging, security, help during tough times and give us a sense of purpose. Being part of a safe, positive community is vital for our mental health and wellbeing.We are looking to create an exhibition of artwork that reflects the important role that communities play in our lives, and in our mental health and wellbeing.You can use any media you like, paint, pencil, fabric, photographs, clay, wood – the limit is your imagination!🎨 How can I enter?Submit a short description and photographs of your artwork via our online form. (Maximum two entries per artist or group)The deadline for submissions is Wednesday 30 April 2025 at 12noon. (Artists must be 16 years and over by the deadline)
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Researchers are looking into the mental health and psychological wellbeing support needs of NHS forensic staff for the Well at Work - Forensic Staff Study
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👥 Who can take part?
This study is open to anyone employed by the Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust working in inpatient forensic, community forensic or prison mental health services.
ℹ️ Why take part?
This is a NIHR ARC-East Midlands funded study, the findings of which are expected to be shared with local services to improve staff wellbeing support.
✍️ What does taking part involve?
Complete an anonymous survey (approx. 20 mins) online or scan the QR code. There will also be the opportunity to take part in a one-to-one interview and/or a focus group if you wish.
➡️ If you have any questions
Please contact the study team at forensic-well-at-work@nottingham.ac.uk
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Nottingham Clinical Trials Unit course: Fundamentals of Clinical Trials
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📅 5 day course, 19th - 23rd May 2025
🎟️ Paid course costs between £325 - £850
ℹ️ More information about the course
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The course introduces the key considerations when designing and conducting a randomised clinical trial. Throughout the five-day course, delegates will learn why clinical trials are necessary, how different kinds of trials are designed and how bias can be minimised, how trials are managed and then analysed, interpreted and reported. The course will primarily focus on large multi-centre clinical trials, considering both drug and complex intervention trials.
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Researchers at the Institute of Mental Health are looking for volunteers to take part in their non-invasive brain stimulation (neuromodulation) studies
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They are looking for any of the following:
- Healthy participants, aged 18 -39 years
- People with mild-moderate anxiety, aged 18-39 years
- People experiencing persistent low mood, aged 18-59 years
Inconvenience allowances are provided for your time.
If you are interested in finding out more, email Dr Lucy Webster on: msalw7@exmail.nottingham.ac.uk
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Researchers at the Institute are seeking mental health citizen scientists
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✍️ Have you been involved in a citizen science project investigating a topic related to mental health?
The team are investigating whether there is consensus on the key features which make a project a mental health citizen science project, rather than other participatory kinds of mental health research.
👥 Who can take part? Anyone aged 18+ who has been involved with a mental health citizen science project either as a public contributor or as a project lead.
➡️ How to get involved? Complete a short online consultation, which should take no more than 30 minutes.
Online survey and more information can be found here
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📅 Wednesday 7th May 2025, 12:00 - 14:00
📍 Online via MS Teams
🎟️ Free
This two-hour webinar will take the form of a number of short presentations on key aspects of the Bill by colleagues from the School of Law and the Centre for Mental Health and Human Rights in the Institute of Mental Health, with time set aside for questions and discussion.
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📅 Friday 6th June 2025, 09:00 - 16:30
📍 Institute of Mental Health, NG7 2TU🎟️ Free
Plenary speaker - Professor Matthew Broome, Professor of Psychiatry and Youth Mental Health at the University of Birmingham will be talking on 'Interdisciplinary mental health: from philosophy to applied translational research'
➡️ The call for abstracts is still open and you can submit your abstract using this online form
Deadline to submit is 22nd April, 12 noon.
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📅 Wednesday 11th June 2025, 09:00 - 13:00
📍 Institute of Mental Health, NG7 2TU🎟️ £100 per attendee
📥 More information on the IMH website
Why should SENCOs take the course?
Special Education Needs Co-ordinators (SENCOs) play a key role in the development of SEN policy and code of practise in schools, and it is crucial that they are knowledgeable in all aspects of SEN.
We have created a new ‘train the trainer’ method to educate whole schools about Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
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📅 Friday 18th July 2025, 12:30 - 16:30
📍 Institute of Mental Health, NG7 2TU🎟️ Full: £50
FRN Group members: £30
NottsHC employee: £30
Student: £20
📥 More information on the IMH website
Dr Mayura Deshpande speaking on the challenges of anchoring policy in evidence and the priorities for the future of the secure pathway.
Dr Simon Hackett speaking on psychological interventions for aggression in secure care.
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📅 4th and 5th September 2025, 09:00 - 17:00
📍 Crowne Plaza, Nottingham, NG1 5RH🎟️ Two days in person: £300
Concession in person: £150
Online: £60
📥 More information on the Institute website
The conference themes are:
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
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📅 10th Sept - 8th Oct.
Every Wednesday 1pm-3pm for 5 weeks.
📍 Online via MS Teams🎟️ £250 per attendee
📥 More information on the Institute website
This CPD accredited training programme for PPI has been designed to increase knowledge of active researchers and colleagues in health and care research and provide time to engage and build collective confidence in a shared learning space.
This programme is equivalent to 10 live learning CPD hours as a minimum for your own professional development.
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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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