In the news...
for May 2025
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from the Institute of Mental Health, Nottingham
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Welcome to our latest monthly round-up of news and events from the Institute of Mental Health.
This month's articles have a particularly celebratory feel as we share news of an array of award wins, funding success and staff nominations recognising their dedication to research. At a time when research across the globe is dealing with many uncertainties and challenges, I'm immensely proud that we are able to bring you some good news and share with you the continuing research journeys of our researchers and their contribution to improving the lives of people locally, and around the world.
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Professor Martin Orrell
Director, Institute of Mental Health
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Dr Tully’s project, ‘EmpaMEG’, will explore the neural basis of empathy in violent offenders with antisocial personality disorder with or without psychopathy, using cutting edge technologies at Sir Peter Mansfield Imaging Centre. The project will incorporate the first use of ‘wearable’ brain imaging technology - Optically Pumped Magnetometer - Magnetoencephalography (OPM-MEG) – in any psychiatric population, and 7T Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy.
Project collaborators include Prof Matthew Brookes, and Dr Adam Berrington at UoN and Prof Stephane de Brito at University of Birmingham, and the project will contribute data to the international ENIGMA consortium’s working group on antisocial behaviour.
Dr Tully said “I am delighted and very grateful to have been awarded this fellowship by MRC. I have received invaluable support from my collaborators and other colleagues in developing EmpaMEG and I believe UoN is the ideal environment to deliver the project and expand into further translational work.”
Read more about the story on our website.
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Success at the first Forum for Mental Health Technology Innovators 2025, Liverpool
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At the end of March, MindTech worked with collaborators from the University of Liverpool and Mersey Care to put on an event, the Forum for Mental Health Technology Innovators, at the Liver Building on the Liverpool waterfront. Over 100 people attended the event, which was funded by the NIHR MH-TRC Mental Health Mission.
The programme included keynotes from Mindtech's long-time industry partner, BfB Labs and Kings College London, and attendees joined in table discussions, experienced new technology demos, and put their questions to our panel. We've had terrific feedback highlighting the value of the event and look forward to hosting our next one!
Read more about the event on the MindTech website.
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The discussion poses whether and when it is advisable for academics researching youth mental health to collaborate with digital companies. There is growing optimism that collaboration with companies may allow independent researchers to access opportunities to test and scale up beneficial digital interventions. However, professional guidance is required to understand the technicalities of choosing to enter into such collaborations and the processes, trust, and interests at stake.
The article highlights what information already exists for researchers and what guidance is needed to ensure that youth mental health researchers can successfully collaborate with digital companies.
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The Research Delivery Team have been shortlisted for a Nottinghamshire Healthcare OSCAR (Outstanding Service Contribution and Recognition Scheme)
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Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust's Research Delivery Team (based at the Institute) have been shortlisted for the Trust's 2025 Quality Improvement and Research Excellence OSCARS award.
This year's OSCARS received a record-breaking 936 nominations, the highest number in the event's 22-year history, so it's an exceptional achievement that the team have been shortlisted. The awards ceremony is scheduled for July in Nottingham, where shortlisted individuals and teams will be honoured. Good luck to the team!
Read about those shortlisted on the Nottinghamshire Healthcare website.
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Congratulations to Lauren Teasel and Lydia Cook, who are both final year trainees on the University of Nottingham's professional doctorate in forensic psychology, and had their work accepted for the British Psychological Society's annual Division of Forensic Psychology Conference taking place in July
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The annual conference of the Division of Forensic Psychology is the UK's most renowned event for forensic psychologists. It is a gathering of international practitioners and researchers who aim to share, collaborate, and drive excellence in our field.
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Lydia's talk will be titled, "The Impact of Perpetrator and Victim Gender Identity and Ambivalent Sexism on Perceptions of Relational Stalking" and is a part of a series of studies she has undertaken examining public attributions of stalking with a focus on gender identity.
Lauren's talk will be entitled, "Pornography use, attitudes towards sexual coercion, and perpetration of sexually coercive behaviours (SCB) by females" and examines an important yet largely unexplored issue that has been examined in males.
View the programme for the conference happening in July here
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Led by Gina Asbo from the University of Oslo, the new paper shared the findings from a qualitative study of what facilitates long-term recovery in first-episode psychosis and how services could support service users to implement the study's recommendations.
The analysis generated five themes that were overarching facilitators of recovery:
- Doing recovery in everyday life, involving agency in daily life
- Re-evaluating risk, involving re-evaluating limitations and stress reduction
- Becoming a caregiver, involving development from being cared for to taking care of others
- Negotiating normality, involving identity and social inclusion
- Owning and sharing your story, involving accepting lived experience and overcoming stigma
Read the paper online here.
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Congratulations to Dr Blandine French for winning the 'Rising Star Award for Public Engagement' in the University of Nottingham 2025 Policy Impact and Public Engagement Awards
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The awards said 'Blandine French, whose lived experience and research expertise have combined to shape a more inclusive and responsive conversation around neurodiversity. Through founding the Nottingham Neurodiversity Network and leading public engagement activities across the region, Blandine has helped create space for people with ADHD and other neurodevelopmental conditions to shape research agendas and share their stories. From innovative resources to accessible survey design, she has brought new energy and insight into how research can centre lived experience.'
Find out more about the awards and the work that won Blandine her award online here
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'Light' by Catherine D'Arcy Saunders
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This new body of work explores the broad concept of Protection and Light. It is born out of a desire to help understand and navigate our lives in a postmodern era of ongoing global unrest and environmental uncertainty.
Some of Catherine's paintings are large, abstract and expressionistic. There are underlying motifs within the paintings associated with the surface of skin, materiality from archival lace research and her own personal experiences of ceremony and the spiritual.
You can view the artwork at the Institute, Monday to Friday: 8.30am - 4.30pm.
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Nominations for this year's IMH Star Award are now open
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The Institute of Mental Health is pleased to announce it’s now receiving nominations for the 2025 Star Award for ‘Best Contribution to Research Facilitation or Delivery’
The award recognises the support, contribution, or outstanding efforts that a member of the IMH staff, the NottsHC Research Delivery Team, or the NottsHC Research and Evidence team have played in the set-up and/or delivery of a research project.
Has a member of the Delivery Team helped hit a project target with some determined recruitment work?
Has a member of the Compliance team helped iron out a difficult contracting issue?
Or would you like to say thank you to an Administrator who has kept the project running smoothly?
All nominations will be reviewed by an IMH judging panel and the IMH STAR Award certificate will be presented to the winner during the IMH Research Day, Friday 6th June 2025.
Nominate someone for the IMH Star Award using this online form
Deadline to submit a nomination is Monday 2nd June, 5pm.
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Applications for Cohort 3 of the Institute's Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) Training course are now open
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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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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 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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📅 Thursday 15th May, 12:30 - 16:00
📍 City as Lab, Castle Meadow Road, NG2 1AB🎟️ Free, but please register
📥 More information on Eventbrite
Hear about the latest work from their teams on collaborative assessment featuring the novel digital assessment tool the CaTS-APP and Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality (CAMS) framework. Let's work together to make a difference in supporting people struggling with self-harm and suicidality.
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📅 Friday 6th June 2025, 09:00 - 16:30
📍 Institute of Mental Health, NG7 2TU🎟️ Free
📥 Register to attend on the Institute website
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 finalised programme will be published soon.
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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 Institute 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 Institute 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 international event speakers and recovery colleges panellists are beginning to be announced. Including a variety of researchers, professionals and lived experience speakers.
Visit the conference website to learn more about each speaker.
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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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