University of Bristol joins £11 million Bath initiative to improve youth mental health research and services

Group image of the Bath MHRG
Image credit: University of Bath

(IN BRIEF) The University of Bristol is collaborating with the universities of Bath and Exeter to launch the Bath Mental Health Research Group, a £11 million NIHR-funded initiative aimed at addressing youth mental health challenges in Bath, North-East Somerset, Swindon, and Wiltshire. The group will work with local organisations, NHS providers, and young people to ensure research is relevant, collaborative, and impactful. As part of NIHR’s wider £27 million national investment in underserved regions, the Bath MHRG will focus on preventing mental health problems, improving outcomes for young people already in care, and embedding research into community priorities.

(PRESS RELEASE) BRISTOL, 15-Sep-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — The University of Bristol has joined forces with the University of Bath and the University of Exeter in the launch of a new Mental Health Research Group (MHRG), aimed at improving mental health outcomes for young people across Bath, North-East Somerset, Swindon, and Wiltshire. The initiative, unveiled today, is designed to strengthen support for local communities by complementing existing services and ensuring research reflects the region’s most urgent needs.

The 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 wider national programme establishing up to ten new research groups across England. These groups will focus on regions where mental health problems are widespread yet research activity remains limited, helping to expand long-term research capacity while directly addressing local priorities.

The NIHR is investing an initial £27 million to support mental health research in nine underserved regions, broadening opportunities for diverse communities to take part in studies and ensuring more inclusive treatment development. Bath is among the first to benefit, marking a significant step in expanding research that directly impacts young people’s lives.

Dr Pamela Jacobsen, Director of the Bath MHRG, highlighted the urgency of the group’s mission: “Most mental health problems begin in youth, yet too many go unrecognised or untreated. By focusing on young people in this region, we want the Bath MHRG to become a centre of innovation and real-world impact in applied mental health research.”

Professor Paul Moran, Head of the Centre for Academic Mental Health at the University of Bristol’s Medical School, added: “This newly funded NIHR Mental Health Research Group offers an opportunity to create a groundbreaking research programme. We hope to make a meaningful difference to the mental health of young people across the Southwest.”

Professor Ailsa Russell, Deputy Director of the Bath MHRG, also stressed the value of the initiative: “This funding allows us to strengthen partnerships between researchers, practitioners, and local organisations, ensuring research is not only innovative but also embedded in community needs. It is a rare chance to build capacity and improve outcomes collaboratively.”

The group will work closely with NHS providers, schools, community organisations, and young people themselves to co-develop practical, evidence-based solutions. Youth and stakeholder advisory groups will ensure that lived experience informs all stages of research, while projects will focus both on preventing mental health problems and improving care for those already receiving support.

This collaboration between the universities of Bath, Bristol, and Exeter, together with local service providers, is expected to deliver research-driven improvements that can enhance existing mental health services and provide better long-term outcomes for young people in the region.

Media contact:
Email: press-office@bristol.ac.uk
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SOURCE: University of Bristol