NCMH renewed for five years with £4.7m investment

Posted March 24th 2020

Mental health research in Wales will see an investment of £4.7m over the next five years thanks to renewed funding for the National Centre for Mental Health.

The funding NCMH will receive from Health and Care Research Wales is part of a £44 million investment from Welsh Government in health and social care research to improve care and services.

Professor Kieran Walshe, Director of Health and Care Research Wales, said: “Investing in health and social care research in Wales is essential. Research has provided us with the evidence for the services and care we provide today, and future research will help develop new treatments and services to improve care for people and communities in Wales.

“As well as continued funding for key areas such as cancer, mental health and dementia, we’re also excited to be able to support and deliver research in new areas such as children’s wellbeing and social prescribing.

“This funding enables excellent research to continue in Wales; research that will make a real difference to people’s lives.”

Professor Ian Jones, Director of NCMH, said: “I am thrilled that the Centre has been successful in our bid for renewal. This is a reflection of the commitment of the team, clinicians throughout Wales and, most importantly, those with lived experience of mental health conditions who have supported our research.

Over the next five years, this funding will enable us to continue to involve more people with lived experience in our research, adding to the more than 20,000 people who have already volunteered to help us better understand mental illness.

“In addition, we’re excited to continue developing new interventions and to engage with the public in Wales and across the UK to reduce the stigma that still surrounds many mental health conditions and illnesses.

“Thank you to our staff and research volunteers, whose hard work, passion and commitment have helped ensure NCMH is able to continue into this next phase.”