Mental health research:

Together we can make a difference

Help us learn more about the triggers and causes of mental health problems by taking part in our online research

About our study

We are trying to understand why some people experience problems with their mental health. We hope by understanding more about the causes of mental health problems, we can help improve treatments, diagnosis and support in the future.


We need as many people as possible to take part - wherever you live and regardless of whether you've ever experienced a mental illness or not.

You must be at least 18 years old to take part in this study online. If you are under 18 and would like to help, contact us on info@ncmh.info

What will we ask?

We will ask questions about your health and lifestyle, and about yourself, like age and ethnic group. We'll also ask for your contact details.

How long will it take?

Around 5 minutes to read the consent sheet, and 10-15 minutes to answer the questions.

NCMH is led by Cardiff, Swansea and Bangor Universities. We are funded by Welsh Government through Health and Care Research Wales.

Who are we?

"When I found out about NCMH I didn’t see any way I could not help with their research. If there was one thing I could do to help people in the future, I had to do it. If I can give a little time now to make a difference for people maybe 10 or 20 years down the line, then why wouldn’t I?"

Lann

"I’d recommend taking part in the study as the more we can understand these conditions, the better. I’m hoping the research will achieve an understanding of mental health so more effective treatments can be developed. It would also be great to help the public understand it better, to reduce stigma."

Munzir

FAQs

What are the possible benefits of taking part?

We hope that learning more about mental health will lead to new ways of diagnosing, treating or even preventing mental illnesses. However, these remain long-term aims and you will not benefit directly from taking part in the study.

Who will have access to my information?

Only the study team will have access to your data and only they will contact you directly. All information collected during the course of the research will be kept strictly confidential. There are strict laws that safeguard your privacy at every stage.

In accordance with the Data Protection Act, your personal information will be kept confidential by assigning a unique study code to your data. Your name and identifying information will not be passed on to anyone.

How often will I be contacted?

We will contact you every 6-12 months to ask you questions about your mental and general health and lifestyle. Sometimes we will ask for information that you haven’t given before. Sometimes we will ask you the same questions as before, so that we can see how your lifestyle and health is changing.

As well as this regular contact, the study team may contact you from time to time, to ask you to take part in new studies. You may also be contacted because you have a specific condition (for example, depression).

Can I decline or withdraw from the study?

You do not have to take part in this study. If you do decide to take part, you are still free to withdraw at any time without giving a reason. If you do decide to withdraw from the study, all details you have provided will be destroyed. These will not be used further in the research.

What happens when the study has finished?

This is a long term study that will allow us to learn a lot about the causes and triggers of mental health problems. The information that you provide will be stored for use on a long term basis (at least 15 years). To make the best use of resources, we will share data (which will be anonymous to exclude any personal details), with different groups of researchers from the NHS, universities and commercial companies.

You will not have any claim to any future commercial use of results from the study in which your data has been used.

Who has reviewed the study?

Ethical approval has been obtained from the National Research Ethics Service and NHS (Research and Development) permission has also been obtained.

Can I discuss the study with somebody independent of the project?

Yes, you can contact Dr Vanessa Davies on 029 2068 8340 or at daviesvj@cardiff.ac.uk.

Copyright © National Centre for Mental Health (NCMH) 2017