Mental health problems can have a significant impact on people’s lives, with most emerging before the age of 25. While effective care exists, high demand and resource pressures can make it difficult for young people in Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon, and Wiltshire to access timely, high-quality support.

Recognising the excellent work already happening locally, a new research group, launching at the University of Bath on 15 September 2025, will work in partnership with local organisations to enhance and complement existing mental health services. The group will actively engage with young people and service providers to ensure its research is grounded in the realities of the local community and addresses its most pressing needs.

The Bath Mental Health Research Group (Bath MHRG) has secured £11 million in funding over five years from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) as part of a major national initiative. This initiative aims to establish new Mental Health Research Groups across the country, focusing on regions where mental health problems are common but research activity and participation remain low. The initiative aims to strengthen long-term research capacity, address local priorities, and improve support for communities that are currently underserved.

The Bath MHRG aims to prevent mental health problems, improve outcomes for those already receiving care, and involve the public in shaping research through youth and stakeholder advisory groups.

Working in partnership with the University of Exeter, University of Bristol, local NHS providers, and community organisations, the group will develop practical, evidence-based solutions designed collaboratively with service providers and service users.

Director of the Bath MHRG, Dr Pamela Jacobsen, said:

Most mental health problems start young but too many go unrecognised or untreated. By improving life chances for young people in this neglected region, we aim to make the Bath MHRG a beacon of innovation in applied mental health research.

Deputy Director of the Bath MHRG, Professor Ailsa Russell, said:

Research can have an important role to play in supporting organisations and people to develop the excellent work they are already doing. However, research can be seen as a luxury in times of constrained resources and high demands. This investment is a rare opportunity to develop research partnerships and make a real impact locally. Through this funding we can increase the scope and size of connections between research and practice in an informed and collaborative way, hopefully improving outcomes for everyone.

Paul Moran, Professor of Psychiatry and Head of the Centre for Academic Mental Health in Bristol Medical School: Population Health Sciences (PHS), added:

I am delighted to be working with Dr Jacobsen and colleagues at the universities of Bath and Exeter on this newly funded NIHR Mental Health Research Group. Our Group plans to undertake a ground-breaking programme of research - one which we hope will make a difference to the mental health of young people living in the Southwest.

GW4 Health and Wellbeing Research Manager, Dr Claire Spreadbury, said:

Mental health research is a shared strength across the GW4 Alliance, and improving mental health outcomes is central to our strategic priority of advancing health and wellbeing for all. With over 200 members in our Mental Health Research Network, we share a vision for how research can drive real change and lead to improvements in mental health outcomes. We are delighted to see the launch of this partnership, led by the University of Bath, alongside GW4 members Bristol and Exeter, which will foster long-term collaboration, accelerate knowledge exchange, and ultimately improve the lives of young people.