In the news...
for MARCH 2026
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from the Institute of Mental Health, Nottingham
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Welcome to our March 2026 update from the Institute of Mental Health. In this edition you’ll find highlights of new studies, important new findings, events, and opportunities to take part in research. From new support interventions for people after transient ischaemic attack and minor stroke, to advances in our understanding of neurodevelopmental disorders, our researchers span a range of conditions across the lifespan. Thank you for your interest in the work we do and dedication to impactful research and engagement.
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Professor Martin Orrell
Director, Institute of Mental Health
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New intervention will provide emotional support remotely for TIA and minor stroke patients
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We're pleased to announce a new study, led by experts at the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) and University of Nottingham, that will look at how people who have experienced a Transient Ischaemic Attack (TIA) or a minor stroke can receive emotional and practical support remotely.
The e-OPTIMISM study, funded by the Stroke Association, and hosted by Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, is led by Dr Eirini Kontou, Associate Professor and Lead Clinical Psychologist with Dr Jade Kettlewell, Assistant Professor as co-lead. Congratulations to the team on securing this vital funding.
New intervention will provide emotional support remotely for TIA and minor stroke patients
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Professor Maddie Groom gives expert response to BAFTAs
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Following the controversy surrounding the BAFTAs, IMH colleague, Professor Maddie Groom, featured in a Guardian article, providing an objective, clinical context on Tourette syndrome. In the piece, she explains that tics are involuntary neurological symptoms rather than intentional behaviours. She emphasises that only a minority of people experience swearing tics and that stigma and misunderstanding remain significant challenges. Maddie’s contribution underscores the need for public education, compassionate responses, and improved access to effective treatments and support.
In addition, researchers from the ORBIT (Online Remote Behavioural Intervention for Tics) trial have issued a statement. View the ORBIT team's statement on the BAFTAs
Professor Maddie Groom is Chair of the National Steering Group for Tics and Tourette Syndrome. Watch the group's brief animation capturing the lived experience of young people, adults and parents trying to access healthcare services for their/their child’s tics:
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Recruitment success for Notts Healthcare's BAY team!
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Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust researchers have been recognised as the highest recruiting team for the BAY trial! Behavioural Activation for Young people with depression in specialist CAMHS (BAY) aims to support depressed young people in developing confidence, to connect with others, and increase activities that are important to them, with the hope it will help with their recovery.
The trial was led locally by Professor Kapil Sayal, alongside Notts Healthcare colleagues Rhianne Bostock, Matea Svigac, Hannah Strange, Josephine Holland, Ranjitha David, Lizzy Walker, Sara Chamberlain, Tracey Armstrong, Joanne Knowles, Sally Butler, and Alexandrea Wusu. A total of ninety-three participants were randomised from the Trust.
"Thank you so much everyone and very well done, this is a fantastic achievement! A huge thank you to each and every one of you for all your hard work, persistence and dedication in making this possible. A brilliant team effort!" Professor Kapil Sayal, Principal Investigator.
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PhD Studentship: Multidisciplinary Research in Artificial Intelligence - apply now
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Applications are now open for a fully-funded PhD studentship, commencing October 2026, supervised by IMH colleague Dr Michael Craven (pictured).
This PhD project aims to develop an AI-enabled communication support tool that assists people with dementia who experience difficulties with speech and language. The tool will predict likely next words during speech and, when a person becomes stuck, offers optional prompts, such as suggested words or visual cues, to support expression without taking control away from the user.
Full details can be found on the University of Nottingham website: AI-Enhanced Conversational Support for People Living with Dementia (Engineering, Computer Science, Medicine)
To apply, email Dr Michael Craven
Closing date for applications 19 April 2026.
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No overdiagnosis of ADHD, say Institute experts
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Experts are warning that far from being over diagnosed, people with ADHD are waiting too long for assessment, support and treatment.
In a paper, published today in the British Journal of Psychiatry, a group of experts, including IMH colleagues Professor Kapil Sayal and Professor Chris Hollis (pictured), say there is no robust evidence that ADHD is over-diagnosed in the UK.
The new paper refutes the view that ‘nowadays everyone has ADHD’ which is gaining traction in public discourse and has been amplified by some leading politicians, as demand rises for NHS assessments and services.
Bringing together academics, clinicians, people with lived experience and carers, the group say this narrative risks misleading the public and policymakers and overshadows a more pressing concern - unmet need.
Read the paper in the British Journal of Psychiatry
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New paper highlights barriers to accessing mental health services
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Research shines a light on bipolar disorder in young people
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Awards for MindTech researchers
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Congratulations to Lily Roberts and Hannah Wright on their recent awards at scientific conferences!
Hannah (pictured) presented at the Health Research from Home Connect conference at Google HQ, taking home the prestigious Ken Rothman award for outstanding research. Hannah presented her PhD work around a wearable device to reduce the frequency of tics in Tourette Syndrome. Professors Chris Hollis and Maddie Groom, and Dr Charlotte Hall are a proud supervision team!
Lily, a MindTech research assistant, was awarded Best Video at the recent UKRI Adolescence, Mental Health and the Developing Mind programme conference where she showcased the CaTS-App. CaTS-App is part of the Digital Youth programme and helps young people share their experiences of self-harm. Watch Lily’s award winning video
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Young people share how to manage wellbeing in a digital world - new video from Digital Youth
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INVOLVEMENT AT THE INSTITUTE
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Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) training programme - apply now
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📅 15 April 2026 to 13 May 2026, 1pm to 3pm
📍 Online via MS Teams
🎟️ £250
📥 More information on the IMH website
Applications are now open for our spring 2026 Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) training programme. This CPD accredited course is led by Kate Horton (right*), our PPI Lead, and takes place on weekly two-hour sessions, via MS Teams.
This programme is designed for Early Career Researchers, future PPI facilitators and those people expected to deliver on the asks of PPI. The learning is designed to help you consider and embed meaningful PPI within your systems so you can incorporate living experiences, peer researchers and patient and public contributors to improve the relevance, acceptability and accessibility of your research.
If you’re not sure if this course is for you then please get in touch. We would love to hear from you, and we can talk about some of the content, feasibility for your own context and also discuss alternatives for your progress in this area. In addition, we will be delivering the programme again later in the year.
*Cartoon created by Fred Higton, IMH Public Contributor
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DETERMIND project seeking support
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The DETERMIND research project is exploring the lived experiences of LGBTQIA+ people affected by dementia, a highly underserved population, with the aim of improving future dementia care pathways to be more inclusive, responsive, and accessible.
Researchers are currently seeking support with recruitment for this study, which involves interviews with LGBTQIA+ people living with dementia anywhere in the UK. Carers are also welcome to take part if the participant wishes.
To learn more or get involved, email Ben Hicks
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Next steps for BRIDGE study - now seeking parents and young people 📢
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PhD student Alexia Jeayes is exploring the challenges and enablers of designing, delivering and evaluating digital mental health trials for children and young people. By gathering the perspectives of those involved in these trials, from clinicians to young people, this project aims to identify practical solutions to improve future studies and ensure that digital mental health interventions can be implemented effectively in clinical settings.
Surveys are now open for young people and caregivers/parents:
View and take part in the online survey for young people
View and take part in the survey for parents/caregivers
Alternatively, email Alexia Jeayes
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Study using AI to detect early-stage post-natal depression is seeking participants
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Could you take part in a study investigating an AI-powered app monitoring mental wellbeing during pregnancy and the postpartum period?
Participants from 12 weeks pregnant to 12 weeks postpartum will use the TrueBlue app on their mobile devices over 12 weeks. The goal is to assess whether the app is safe, usable, acceptable, and how far predictions from the technology agree with standard clinical measures of depression and anxiety. The technology behind this trial has been developed by the study's partner BlueSkeye AI and was featured in a BBC Panorama episode in August 2023, exploring the positive future uses of Artificial Intelligence.
This study is led by Dr Neil Nixon in the Centre for Mood Disorders, and run in close collaboration with experts in Public Patient Involvement (PPI) and senior specialist clinicians at Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.
For anyone interested in the trial, email the TrueBlue team or call 0115 748 6749. Alternatively view and complete the TrueBlue expression of interest form
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📅 Wednesday 11 March 2026, 11:30 to 12:30
📍 Online via MS Teams
🎟️ Free
ℹ️ More information on the IMH website
Join our Centre for Dementia colleagues for their next lunchtime webinar, Exploring Epistemic Injustice in Dementia Care: a scoping review and a qualitative study.
Lara Calabrese from the University of Bologna will explore the concept of epistemic injustice in dementia care, referring to situations in which people with dementia may not be fully recognised as credible knowers of their own experiences. Visit our website for more information and registration
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📅 15 April 2026 to 13 May 2026, 1pm to 3pm
📍 Online via MS Teams
🎟️ £250
📥 More information on the IMH website
Applications are now open for our spring 2026 Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) training programme. This CPD accredited course is led by Kate Horton, our PPI Lead, and takes place on weekly two-hour sessions, via MS Teams.
This programme is designed for Early Career Researchers, future PPI facilitators and those people expected to deliver on PPI requirements. The learning is designed to help you consider and embed meaningful PPI within your systems so you can incorporate living experiences, peer researchers and patient and public contributors to improve the relevance, acceptability and accessibility of your research.
To find out more, visit our website or email Kate Horton
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📅 Wednesday 17 June 2026, 09:30 to 15:30
📍 Institute of Mental Health, Nottingham
🎟️ £120
ℹ️ More information on the IMH website
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).
➡️ Hear the latest evidenced-based research
➡️ Comprehensive overview of ADHD
➡️ Learn the science of ADHD
➡️ Understand your local care pathway
➡️ Use your new knowledge to train the teachers in your school
Find out more and buy tickets
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📅 Wednesday 13 May, 09:00 to 15:30
📍 Monica Partridge Building, Jubilee Campus
🎟️ £45 to £80
ℹ️ Buy tickets
Hosted by the University of Nottingham in conjunction with Society for Academic Primary Care (SAPC) and the NIHR Mental Health Translational Research Collaboration Mission. The conference theme this year is ‘Providing better care for underserved communities in primary care mental health.’ There will be opportunities for oral and poster presentations, and networking with academics and others interested in primary care mental health.
Find out more and buy tickets
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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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