Research - MHRN

Mental Health Research Network (MHRN)

** NEW MHRN Annual Conference **

Information regarding the next MHRN Annual Conference are available on the MHRN website

The Mental Health Research Network (MHRN) supports vital large-scale research which will help to raise the standard of mental health and social care research throughout England. In addition, it acts as a central point of information and reference, connecting service users and carers to researchers and mental health professionals. The research not only responds to government policy but will help guide practice and contribute to the understanding of mental illness as a whole in the UK.

The principal aims of the UK MHRN are:

• To coordinate and facilitate the delivery of large-scale research projects that will inform policy and practice as it develops

• To broaden the scope and capacity of research in mental health, including full involvement of service users and carers as well as frontline staff

• To help identify the mental health research needs (particularly in health and social care)

• To develop research capacity through a range of initiatives at a local, regional and national level.

Local Research Networks (Hubs)

There are currently eight research hubs in England , which have clinical, academic and service user components and cover approximately 60% of the English population. The clinical component consists of primary, secondary and social care and the academic component is a mix of high quality multi-disciplinary researchers from universities and research consortia. The research networks provide the essential infrastructure for the Network, coordinating the recruitment of patients, participants or clinical teams for the large-scale research studies that have been 'adopted'. In addition there is a Service User Research Group for England (SURGE) which supports service user involvement in projects run on the network.

Further information on Local Research Networks is available on the MHRN website