TRIUMPH Network Newsletter
January 2021

Mental Health Research Goals

The Chief Medical Officer for England has recently published a new set of mental health research goals for 2020–2030. These research goals are the outcome of a collective approach across the mental health research community including people living with mental health problems, and show the areas where we need to focus our efforts and attention over the next ten years. 

Ten Year Mental Health Strategy for Northern Ireland

The Department of Health is consulting on a draft ten year Mental Health Strategy designed to improve mental health outcomes for people in Northern Ireland. They welcome views on the draft Strategy during the consultation period until 26 March 2021.

We believe too many children and young people are having to meet crisis point before they are able to access support for their mental health and wellbeing, and we are calling for long term, sustainable investment to redesign local support with children and young people so it best meets their needs."  Maisie Davies,  Senior Policy and Research Officer

Mental Health and Covid-19​
In response to the Covid-19 pandemic Barnardo’s worked with a group of young people to produce a report Mental Health and Covid-19: In Our Own Words. It brings together insights gathered by young people, with those gathered by Barnardo’s through a national survey of over 100 children and young people they support, as well as 4,000 children and young people through a YouGov survey from our Big Conversation. 

Podcast: Real World Public Mental Health

The Real World Public Mental Health podcast explores how evidence is being used in the real world to prevent mental health problems and promote better mental health for all.

Webinar: Covid-19 response: Mental Health Resources for and by Young People (Co-RAY) 

Recordings from the webinar led by the Emerging Minds Network discussing  priorities for resources to support 11-16 year olds with their mental health during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Covid-19 Conversations

A new online tool developed by health researchers at the University of Glasgow that explores how the Covid-19 response has influenced health and wellbeing across society. The aim of the tool is to start conversations around Covid-19 and inequalities, and to help people who don’t have a background in public health to explore the wider impacts of Covid-19, including impacts on mental health.

Funding opportunities

Medical Research Council Mental Health Research Hub. £2 million in funding is available to set up a mental health data research hub in partnership with Health Data Research UK. The hub is expected to develop into an ongoing national resource for mental health research. Intention to submit deadline: 29 January 2021.

NIHR Doctoral and pre-doctoral fellowships for people working in local authorities. This pilot scheme is designed to support individuals based in local authorities or local authority commissioned services to develop as health and/or social care researchers whilst retaining their existing employment and practice. Deadline: 18 March 2021

PhD studentships in young people’s mental health. The MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit at the University of Glasgow are accepting applications for 2021 PhD studentships. Studentship topics include areas such as sleep and mental health in young people and adolescent wellbeing within the school context. Deadline: 26 February 2021.

Early Career Researcher Lunchtime Series, ‘How to engage with the Media’: 27 January 2021

The Violence, Abuse and Mental Health Network’s (VAMHN) seminar series will run throughout 2021, with topics including how to engage with policy, advice on publishing and on applying for grants. View the full 2021 programme and register for the first event.

CAMHS Around The Campfire. Voice hearing in adolescence: 5pm, 28 January 2021

The first 2021 session of this free virtual journal club kicks off with discussion on a paper about voice-hearing in adolescence. Visit the website for more information and to register.

Youth Mental Health and Covid-19: What do we know and what should we do? Online conference: 1–3 March 2021

The Emerging Minds Network, Policy Institute and Centre for Society and Mental Health at Kings College are hosting a conference and policy lab on Covid-19 and youth mental health, ‘What do we know and what should we do?’.

Take part in research

Join the SMaRteN Student-Led Research Team

If you are an undergraduate or postgraduate interested in student mental health research and would like the opportunity to work alongside internationally recognised mental health researchers apply for the Student Mental Health Research Network Student-Led Research Team 2021/22. Application deadline: 25 January 2021.

Young people's advisory groups in health research: scoping review and mapping of practices. Scoping review of the role of young people’s advisory groups in youth-focused health studies.

Coronavirus (COVID-19): children, young people and families - evidence summary - December 2020. Scottish Government summary of Scottish and UK evidence on the impact of COVID-19 on the wellbeing of children and young people.

Evidence Based Practice Unit: Key Findings 2020. Short report summarising key research findings from the EBPU about child and youth mental health.

ESRC Centre for Society and Mental Health, Year 1 Report. The Centre aims to advance our understanding of how social, economic, and cultural transformations affect mental health by enabling new collaborations between disciplines and with societal partners, and working closely with users, communities, practitioners, and policy makers to design and assess novel evidence-based strategies for prevention and intervention.

Barnardo's Impact Report 2020. Summarising how Barnardo’s have supported young people through the challenges of 2020 via one-to-one support, children’s centres and family hubs, and school-based programmes, and including experiences from some of the young people who were supported.

Place and belonging in school: why it matters today. Research by University College London has found that having a sense of belonging at school is a reliable predictor of attainment and is often lower among marginalised ethnic groups. The role of belonging, where it is deployed in context of an inclusive agenda, is potentially positive, protective and significant.