In the news...
for MAY 2026
|
|
from the Institute of Mental Health, Nottingham
|
|
|
|
|
As we welcome May, it's a pleasure to look back over the month and reflect on the breadth and ambition of the work taking place across the Institute. This month’s newsletter highlights just how far‑reaching our research and collaborations have become - from highlighting inequalities in children and young people’s mental health care, to advancing digital innovation in pregnancy, dementia, and depression. May is also a time to look forward; 11-17 May is Mental Health Awareness Week, while 20 May is International Clinical Trials Day. Both events are an opportunity to demonstrate our shared commitment to improving mental health outcomes for the communities we serve, along with our partners, the University of Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust. I hope you enjoy reading about the impact we are making together.
|
|
Professor Martin Orrell
Director, Institute of Mental Health
|
|
|
Children and young people from deprived areas less likely to gain access to mental health care
|
New analyses from the STADIA trial, published in the British Journal of Psychiatry, highlights important inequalities in children and young people’s access to mental health care. Tracking 1,225 Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) referrals over 18 months, the study found that young people from the most deprived neighbourhoods were more likely to have their referrals rejected and have poorer clinical outcomes a year on. Younger children, especially under‑11s, were also less likely to receive help. Overall, clinical improvement across the whole group was limited, with 61% still meeting criteria for significant mental health difficulties 12 months after referral. The findings raise pressing questions about how CAMHS services can better meet the needs of those who rely on them most.
Read more on this story
|
|
|
|
New training approach shows promise in improving NHS Psychological Therapists’ skills and outcomes
|
Findings from the TRIPOD (TheRapeutic Interactions in Psychological therapy Of anxiety and Depressive disorders) study, published this week, suggest that a targeted, skills‑focused training method - known as deliberate practice - could improve the effectiveness of psychological therapy, even when delivered in manageable weekly sessions.
Read the TRIPOD story on our website
The illustration above of TRIPOD Lead Investigator, Dr Sam Malins, is by Dr Fred Higton. Fred was a valued member of the study team who sadly passed away recently. Fred's team illustrations can be found on our website
|
|
|
TrueBlue study in the spotlight
|
Can a mobile phone app support mental health during pregnancy and after birth? That’s what IMH researchers are exploring, in collaboration with industry partners BlueSkeye AI.
The TrueBlue study is evaluating new methods of assessing and monitoring mental health during pregnancy and the early postnatal period by using a mobile phone app. Supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Mental Health Translational Research Collaboration (MH-TRC) Mission, TrueBlue, led by Chief Investigator Dr Neil Nixon, is showcased in a new impact story from the NIHR.
View the TrueBlue case study
If you're interested in taking part in TrueBlue, details can be found in the 'take part' section below.
|
|
|
|
News from the Research Delivery Team
|
Congratulations to Jack Cheshire (pictured) on becoming a Registered Clinical Research Practitioner (CRP). Jack, a Senior Research Delivery Officer with the Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust Research Delivery Team, has worked hard on his application and is now deservedly registered with the Academy for Health Sciences. Well done Jack, a fantastic achievement!
You can also read a new blog post by Rhianne Bostock, Senior Research Delivery Officer in the Trust, and CRP Engagement Lead. Rhianne shares her experience of the role and what it entails. Read Rhianne's blog post in the CRP bulletin
|
|
|
Forensic Research Nottingham - new paper in the BJP Bulletin
|
A new paper from the Forensic Research Nottingham (FRN) group explores community forensic mental health services in England. The team examined staffing, population, organisation and treatment provision.
The paper was a collaboration between FRN co-leads, Dr Danny Whiting (pictured) and Dr John Tully, and Notts Healthcare colleagues Marie Williams (Research and Evidence Assistant) and Dr Mark Taylor (Consultant Forensic Psychiatrist).
Read Community forensic mental health services in England: mapping provision, structure and function
|
|
|
|
CANDAL colleagues explore care pathway in BMJ paper
|
|
|
|
Nottingham Neurodiversity Network - case study published
|
|
|
CANDAL researchers have published a case study, outlining the development of a neurodiversity network.
Dr Blandine French and Professor Maddie Groom share their experience of establishing the Nottingham Neurodiversity Network in response to growing challenges in neurodevelopmental disorder care pathways.
Read their case study in Frontiers in Health Services
|
|
|
|
|
Professor Elvira Perez Vallejos in local news
|
|
|
Elvira Perez Vallejos (pictured), Professor of Mental Health and Digital Technology here at the Institute, was interviewed by the Nottingham Post, sharing her expert opinion on social media bans for children.
She said it was placing "responsibility and guilt" on children, parents and teachers, instead of tech bosses.
"Parents are not responsible, teachers are not responsible, and neither are the users. It’s the guys who are designing this type of tech."
Read Elvira's interview in the Nottingham Post
|
|
|
|
|
Latest news from the Centre for Health and Justice
|
|
|
|
New review published in Journal of Affective Disorders Reports
|
|
|
A new paper has been published in the Journal of Affective Disorders Reports, written by lead author Yue Peng, a former IMH Masters student supervised by Dr Paul Briley and Professor Richard Morriss. Co-authors include Notts Healthcare's Dr Lucy Webster and Dr Sudheer Lankappa.
The paper is a scoping review looking at the range of approaches that have been explored to boost (augment) response to transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) for treatment-resistant depression. Development of such approaches is a key focus of the IMH's Centre for Mood Disorders and the Nottingham BRC's mental health and technology theme.
Yue Peng's review found a range of promising approaches for boosting response to TMS, suggesting ways to help more people benefit from this well-tolerated neuromodulation treatment for depression.
Read Augmentation strategies for transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) in the treatment of unipolar depression: A scoping review
|
|
|
|
NIHR HealthTech Research Centre (MindTech) |
|
|
|
Dementia tech innovation awarded £1m prize
|
|
|
New paper highlights industry partnership
|
|
|
MindTech’s Dr Michael Craven, Dr Jake Andrews and Matthew Moore have been working with the winners of the £1m Dementia Longitude Prize, CrossSense
CrossSense, a wearable AI companion that supports memory, focus and mental wellbeing for people living with dementia, are currently working with MindTech colleagues, Dr Michael Craven and Dr Jake Andrews. Michael (Principal Research Fellow and member of our Centre for Dementia) and Jake (Industry Engagement Lead) are sharing their expertise through the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Mindset extended reality (XR) for digital mental health programme. Read about the Mindset XR programme
With co-production at the heart of their product, CrossSense have been supported by MindTech’s Lived Experience Access to Research Network (LEARN), led by Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) co-ordinator, Matthew Moore.
Read more about CrossSense winning the Dementia Longitude Prize
|
|
Professor Richard Morriss (pictured) is among authors of a new paper in the British Journal of Psychiatry, sharing findings from the PReDicT study. Researchers, along with industry partner P1Vital Ltd, explored the use of a digital predictive algorithm to guide antidepressant treatment. The study spanned five countries and was funded by a £4 million European Union Horizon 2020 grant. Professor Morriss is a member of NIHR MindTech and director of our Centre for Mood DisordersView The cost-effectiveness of predictive algorithm guided primary antidepressant treatment: economic evaluation of the multinational PReDicT randomised controlled trial | BJPsych Open | Cambridge Core
|
|
|
|
Award for MindTech placement student
|
|
|
First paper for MindTech PhD researcher
|
|
|
Eve Park (pictured), placement student with IMH colleagues Professor Maddie Groom and Dr Elizabeth Liddle, presented preliminary findings from her MSc placement work at the Women in Neuroscience UK conference last Friday. Presenting Measuring attention, hyperactivity and autonomic arousal in adults with autism and ADHD, Eve was awarded the prize for best flash talk. Congratulations Eve! What a fantastic achievement.
|
|
Congratulations to Alexia Jeayes on the first in-press publication from her PhD. The multi-method qualitative study explored the perspectives of researchers and young people with lived experience of mental health conditions and digital mental health interventions (DMHI) use, on what is an informative DMHI trial for children and young people. Alexia's PhD is NIHR Mental Health Translational Research Collaboration (MH-TRC) Mission funded, as part of the Children and Young People's Mental Health theme working with MindTech. Co-authors are Dr Camilla Babbage, Dt Kirsty Sprange, and Dr Charlotte Hall. Understanding trial informativeness in digital mental health: perspectives from researchers and lived experience experts is available to read now.
|
|
|
INVOLVEMENT AT THE INSTITUTE
|
|
|
Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) training programme - save the date for the next cohort
|
|
|
📅 9 September 2026 to 7 October 2026, 1pm to 3pm
📍 Online via MS Teams
🎟️ £250
📥 More information on the IMH website
Applications are now open for our September 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 PPI within their research. 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
*Cartoon created by Dr Fred Higton, IMH Public Contributor
|
|
|
|
|
Ripples in a pond - new post published on the IMH Blog
|
|
|
A new post has been published on the IMH blog: 'Ripples in a pond' written by Kate Horton (our Public Involvement Lead) and Neil Perron, a member of the Patient Involvement Collaboration with the East Midlands Cancer Alliance Centre for Psychosocial Health. In it, they reflect on the end of a project and the benefit of public involvement in research. Read the blog post on the IMH website
|
|
|
DETERMIND project seeking support
|
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
ADHD study for young people - now open
|
|
|
IMH researchers are inviting children and young people with ADHD (11-16 years old) and a parent to take part in two creative workshop sessions. Participants will work together with the research team to develop early ideas and create simple prototype designs for sensory‑based tools that may support self‑regulation. Each workshop will last approximately three hours and be held during the weekend.
Participants (both the young person and the parent) will receive £45 in shopping vouchers per session. The parent/carer will stay with the child throughout.
To find out more, including eligibility criteria, read the expression of interest form or email Dr Sachiyo Ito‑Jaeger
|
|
|
|
Study using AI to detect early-stage post-natal depression is seeking participants
|
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
Take part - brain imaging study
|
|
|
Our Forensic Research Nottingham colleagues are inviting participants to take part in a brain imaging study, exploring how the brain processes empathy.
Take part
💠 Are you aged between 18 and 59?
💠 Can you attend the University of Nottingham for two days?
💠 Travel expenses and lunch will be provided.
💠 Participants will be paid minimum wage for their time.
💠 The study will involve screening for mental disorders, including an interview, having an MRI brain scan, having an OPM-MEG brain scan and doing tasks using a touchscreen device.
To find out more visit our website or telephone 0115 7485865
Alternatively, email Asha White or email John Tully
|
|
|
|
➡️ Mind Matters: Rethinking Mental Health
📅 Tuesday 19 May 2026, 7pm to 10pm
📍 Beeston Social, 2 Station Rd, NG9 2WJ
💳 £5
➡️ Buy tickets
Two MindTech researchers are presenting at this year's Pint of Science festival!
Jemima Shickle will present Treatments for Depression: Pharmaceuticals, Psychotherapy and Neuromodulation.
Alexia Jeayes will explore what mental health research is useful and meaningful for young people?
This event explores how mental health research and treatments are evolving, from antidepressants and psychotherapy to emerging neuromodulation approaches. Discover how research can better support young people, what harmful gaming really means, and why connection plays a vital role in improving mental wellbeing and care.
|
|
📅 9 September 2026 to 7 October 2026, 1pm to 3pm
📍 Online via MS Teams
🎟️ £250
📥 More information on the IMH website
Our spring 2026 Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) training programme is now underway, but the dates for the next programme cohort have been confirmed. 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 PPI within their research. 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
|
|
|
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. |
|
|
|
@institutemh institutemh.org.uk
|
|
|
|
|
|
