The Centre for Mental Health Policy and Evaluation is a leading international centre carrying out world-class research in the areas of evaluation and implementation of mental health initiatives. The aim of the centre is to positively influence mental health policy and practice.

We grew out of the KCL Centre for Implementation Science. The Centre name reflects:

• The research we do along the translational pathway including observational and interventional designs to assess effectiveness and implementation
• Our research at the levels of public mental health, primary and secondary care
• Our focus on research on both mental health services and public mental health both in the UK and internationally. This focus is a continuation of work beginning in the 1990s during the development of local community mental health services.

What we do

Our centre focuses on assessing the effectiveness and implementation of policies, services and population level interventions, primarily in relation to mental health. We also aim to contribute to the advancement of methods for evaluation and implementation science, and support the capacity building work of NIHR Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) South London. We work with policy makers, organisational leaders, practitioners and people with experience of using/surviving mental health services. We use quantitative, qualitative, mixed and participatory research methods. In addition to trials we conduct timely and inexpensive evaluation including the use of survey and routinely collected data. We have a particular interest in participatory research and equity-informed implementation to reduce unwarranted variations in access to, experience of, and outcomes from mental health care.

Who we are

We are an interdisciplinary team with backgrounds in clinical practice, psychology and sociology, statistics, epidemiology, qualitative and participatory research methods, implementation science, and patient safety. Within the Centre there are five themes:

Theme: Climate, environmental and social change

Theme lead: Prof Ioannis Bakolis

Deputy theme lead: Emeka Chukwusa

What does our theme do?

We are international experts in utilising population-level electronic health records (e.g., Clinical Record Interactive Search (CRIS), General Practice Research Database (GPRD)), large-scale databases (e.g., UK Biobank), birth cohort data (e.g., 1946 birth cohort) and smartphone technologies (e.g., Urban Mind app) to design longitudinal cohorts and quasi-experiments to inform public health and clinical decision on how climate and environmental stressors and other forms of social adversity affect population mental and physical health, and on the effectiveness and implementation of mental health policies, interventions and services.

How do we work?

We work across a wide range of stakeholders from epidemiologists, statisticians, modellers, clinicians, policy makers and patients.

What are we aiming to achieve?

We aim to identify modifiable risk and protective factors to inform and design public mental health prevention policies and interventions.

Theme: Mental health services research

Theme lead: Claire Henderson

Deputy theme lead: Amy Ronaldson

What does our theme do?

We use both trial and observational designs to study the effectiveness and implementation of interventions in mental health.

How do we work?

We work across a wide range of stakeholders from the NHS, Department of Health and Social Care, Non Governmental Organisations, users of mental health services and their supporters.

What are we aiming to achieve?

We aim to generate evidence on the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of both novel and existing interventions; and on how they may be implemented with a view to reducing inequities in access to, experience of, and outcomes for people experiencing mental health problems.

Theme: Implementation and evaluation methodology

Theme lead: Dr Louise Hull

Deputy theme lead: Prof Ioannis Bakolis

What does our theme do?

We are international experts on developing novel methodologies and tools for the conduct of implementation and evaluation research in health and social care settings with a primary focus on development of implementation science tools and resources to support the design of high-quality implementation research (Implementation Outcome Repository; ImpRes; ImpResPAC) and methods for rapid evaluation and implementation of policies and healthcare services (e.g. hybrid studies and clinical trials).

How do we work?

We work with a diverse range of stakeholders including implementation scientists, health services researchers, healthcare professionals and patients.

What are we aiming to achieve?

We aim to contribute to the conceptual and methodological advancement of implementation and evaluation science.

Theme: Equity and participatory research

Theme lead: Dr Josephine Ocloo

What does our theme do?

We see equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) and coproduced participatory research as central to achieving high-quality applied health and social care research that leads to improved health and social care outcomes for different population groups and communities. We therefore use these approaches throughout our projects to ensure that our research is relevant and supports implementation into practice.

How do we work?

We work across three projects connected to patient safety, peer research and community engagement in research. These projects all have a strong focus on working collaboratively with members of the public, service users, carers and those with lived experience.

What are we aiming to achieve?

We aim to coproduce research with people from diverse groups and communities who live and work in South London and especially with the most disadvantaged groups, who are often under-represented in research studies, to improve health outcomes.

Theme: King's Improvement Science

Theme lead: Zoe Lelliott

Deputy theme lead: Jane Stafford

What does KIS do?

The KIS team are experts in the science of improving care and implementing change. We work with healthcare partners to help them deliver the best possible outcomes and experiences for patients and staff. We deliver a range of training, support and advice, and collaborate on research projects which aim to improve care and generate valuable generalisable learning and evidence.

How does KIS work?

KIS works primarily with teams within the King’s Health Partners’ trusts, and actively collaborates with members of our diverse local communities to co-design our research, drawing on the insights of service users, and responding to local needs and priorities.

What are we aiming to achieve?

A future where all health and care staff feel confident using research evidence, data, and improvement approaches to design and deliver high-quality care for everyone in south-east London.