Call for radical increase in mental health research investment
14 October 2009
A Declaration calling for a radical increase in investment in mental health research was made at Downing Street today. The Declaration is part of the Research Mental Health initiative formed to promote the importance of mental health research in the UK and led by the Institute of Psychiatry at King’s and the Mental Health Foundation,.
The Declaration calls upon the Government, the National Health Service, funding bodies, research institutions, the pharmaceutical industry and the third sector to commit to making mental health research a joint priority. Leading scientists have pledged their support as well as public figures including Alistair Campbell; Tracey Emin; Stephen Fry; Melanie C; Jo Brand and Mercury award winner Speech Debelle.
Mental illness causes 15 per cent of the country’s disease burden but receives just five per cent of total health research spending. The Research Mental Health initiative is calling for three times as much investment in mental health research than is currently made.
Til Wykes, Professor of Clinical Psychology at the Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London, said: 'Proper investment in mental health research could bring major breakthroughs in the next 20 years and dramatically change our understanding of mental illness and our ability to prevent and treat it. We have expert researchers, scientists and organisations working in this area but need to bring them together and give them more resource if we are really going to help those who suffer from mental illness.'
Mental ill health is a leading cause of suffering, economic loss, social problems and death in the UK. However, our understanding of mental illness has not improved as fast as that of physical illnesses such as cancer or heart disease. The long-term aim must be to put mental health research on the same footing as that for physical illness and to ensure that it reflects the enormous health, social and economic burden imposed by mental illness.
Currently, around £74 million a year is spent on researching mental illness. For mental health research investment to match the impact mental illness has on people in terms of premature death and disability, Research Mental Health wants to see this figure reach £200 million a year within the next five years.
The Declaration was made at a Number 11 Downing Street reception hosted by Maggie Darling, wife of the Chancellor Alistair Darling.
For further information on Research Mental Health and to pledge support please visit: www.researchmentalhealth.org.uk . For further information on the Mental Health Foundation please visit: www.mhf.org.uk
Click here and scroll down to 0816 to hear Professor Til Wykes on BBC Radio 4's Today programme: http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/listen_again/default.stm