![Andrea Mechelli](/newimages/ioppn/academic-psychiatry/profiles/andrea-mechelli-ioppn.x042f1f06.jpg?w=196&h=160&crop=160,160,27,0&f=webp)
Professor Andrea Mechelli
Professor of Early Intervention in Mental Health
Research interests
- Mental Health
Biography
After training in Clinical Psychology at the University of Padua (1999) and completing a PhD in Neuroscience at University College London (2002), I joined the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience at King's College London, where I am Professor of Early Intervention in Mental Health.
Research Expertise:
- How living in urban areas affects the mental health of urban communities (www.urbanmind.info)
- Impacts of climate change (e.g. more frequent heatwaves) on mental health
- Nature-based solutions to the intersectional challenges of mental health and climate change
- Development and validation of smartphone apps to monitor and support mental health in real time
- Development and validation of psychosocial interventions to target social stress and support social functioning in people with mental health conditions
Teaching Activities:
- Since 2012 I lead the world’s first MSc Early Intervention in Psychosis
- I have extensive experience supervising MSc and PhD students
Public Engagement:
I see public engagement as a critical aspect of my work, and have extensive experience discussing research findings in the national and international media. For example:
People who live near green spaces are less likely to struggle with mental health issues - The Guardian
Why diversity in nature could be the key to mental wellbeing – The Conversation https://theconversation.com/why-diversity-in-nature-could-be-the-key-to-mental-wellbeing-227939
Contact with Nature improves mental health – BBC One Breakfast https://twitter.com/BBCBreakfast/status/951092282555535362
Bird and birdsong encounters improve mental health – The Guardian
Contact with Nature reduces Loneliness in Cities - The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/dec/20/contact-with-nature-cities-reduces-loneliness-study-mental-health
All in the Mind – BBC Radio 4 https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0018nvv
Cities increase your risk of depression, anxiety and psychosis – but bring mental health benefits too – The Conversation https://theconversation.com/cities-increase-your-risk-of-depression-anxiety-and-psychosis-but-bring-mental-health-benefits-too-128911
Research Groups:
Machine Learning in Mental Health Lab
Orchid ID:
ORCID identifier: 0000-0002-6770-2934
News
£1.68m Wellcome funding to explore impact of extreme heat on mental health of urban communities
Wellcome Climate Impacts Award will fund IoPPN-led research aimed at understanding the relationship between extreme heat and mental wellbeing, particularly...
![Heat wave MH 780x440](/newimages/ioppn/news-spotlights/heat-wave-mh-780x440.x20870671.png?crop=780,440,0,5&f=webp)
Going with the flow: study shows canals help boost your mood
The study, carried out by King’s College London, Nomad Projects and J & L Gibbons in partnership with the Canal & River Trust, shows that spending time by...
![Canal and River Trust Research BRC](/newimages/ioppn/news-spotlights/canal-and-river-trust-research-brc.x0b6b86c6.png?crop=780,440,0,5&f=webp)
Feeling chirpy: Being around birds is linked to lasting mental health benefits
New research from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) at King’s College London has found that seeing or hearing birds is associated...
![bird](/newimages/ioppn/news-spotlights/bird.xfe68de29.jpg?w=780&h=520&crop=780,440,0,40&f=webp)
King's research studies mental health of city dwellers
King's researchers develop app to help with improving mental well-being in cities
![iphone-410311_1280](/newimages/folsm/main-article/bmeis/iphone-410311-1280.xe201a2ba.jpg?w=780&h=520&crop=780,440,0,40&f=webp)
Events
![Denmark Hill campus sign](/image-library/denmark-hill-campus-sign780x520.x23f23654.jpg?crop=780,440,0,40&f=webp)
Demystifying Impact
This event is an opportunity to hear from others on their journey toward research impact, with sessions on how to maximise your own impact.
Please note: this event has passed.
Features
Cities increase your risk of depression, anxiety and psychosis – but bring mental health benefits too
The detrimental effects of urban living on physical health have long been recognised, including higher rates of cardiovascular and respiratory disease. More...
![The Shanghai skyline](/newimages/sspp/Lau-China/hero/shanghai-cityscape-hero.xd5973c15.jpg?f=webp)
Health and self for 2020
Kick start your New Year’s resolutions with these top tips based on research from King's
![health-tips banner](/newimages/folsm/hero-banner/health-tips-banner.xd9354217.png?f=webp)
Early intervention in mental health; impact of the built and social environment on mental health; machine learning applied to brain disorders; methods and applications of neuroimaging.
News
£1.68m Wellcome funding to explore impact of extreme heat on mental health of urban communities
Wellcome Climate Impacts Award will fund IoPPN-led research aimed at understanding the relationship between extreme heat and mental wellbeing, particularly...
![Heat wave MH 780x440](/newimages/ioppn/news-spotlights/heat-wave-mh-780x440.x20870671.png?crop=780,440,0,5&f=webp)
Going with the flow: study shows canals help boost your mood
The study, carried out by King’s College London, Nomad Projects and J & L Gibbons in partnership with the Canal & River Trust, shows that spending time by...
![Canal and River Trust Research BRC](/newimages/ioppn/news-spotlights/canal-and-river-trust-research-brc.x0b6b86c6.png?crop=780,440,0,5&f=webp)
Feeling chirpy: Being around birds is linked to lasting mental health benefits
New research from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) at King’s College London has found that seeing or hearing birds is associated...
![bird](/newimages/ioppn/news-spotlights/bird.xfe68de29.jpg?w=780&h=520&crop=780,440,0,40&f=webp)
King's research studies mental health of city dwellers
King's researchers develop app to help with improving mental well-being in cities
![iphone-410311_1280](/newimages/folsm/main-article/bmeis/iphone-410311-1280.xe201a2ba.jpg?w=780&h=520&crop=780,440,0,40&f=webp)
Events
![Denmark Hill campus sign](/image-library/denmark-hill-campus-sign780x520.x23f23654.jpg?crop=780,440,0,40&f=webp)
Demystifying Impact
This event is an opportunity to hear from others on their journey toward research impact, with sessions on how to maximise your own impact.
Please note: this event has passed.
Features
Cities increase your risk of depression, anxiety and psychosis – but bring mental health benefits too
The detrimental effects of urban living on physical health have long been recognised, including higher rates of cardiovascular and respiratory disease. More...
![The Shanghai skyline](/newimages/sspp/Lau-China/hero/shanghai-cityscape-hero.xd5973c15.jpg?f=webp)
Health and self for 2020
Kick start your New Year’s resolutions with these top tips based on research from King's
![health-tips banner](/newimages/folsm/hero-banner/health-tips-banner.xd9354217.png?f=webp)
Early intervention in mental health; impact of the built and social environment on mental health; machine learning applied to brain disorders; methods and applications of neuroimaging.