Through the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), the Government funds a range of research in mental health to inform national mental health policy. In 2020, £93.4 million was spent on mental health research, an increase from the previous year, and it is welcome that the Government is committed to having mental health research as a priority area.
Examples of research include a study jointly led with Kings College London and eating disorder charity Beat aiming to better understand what may lead to an eating disorder. In 2021, UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) announced £24 million investment into adolescent mental health, including projects to better understand the relationship between social media and the mental health problems some young people face.
I was very encouraged to see the Government’s commitments to health-related research and development (R&D) in the 2021 Spending Review, including the largest ever cash uplift for health R&D. Funding will increase by £605 million, meaning the overall investment will rise to £2 billion by 2024/25. I look forward to learning more about projects that this funding will support.
Craig Whittaker MP
April 2022