Grand Challenges

Mental Health

We will deliver transformative change in early detection and intervention for mental health issues for all members of our community, with a strong focus on prevention and digital solutions.

The Problem

Mental Health conditions affect almost 1 billion people globally. Individuals across all demographics can experience mental health conditions, and these may cause difficulties in all aspects of life. The impact of mental health conditions is devastating and contributes significantly to the global burden of disease. The most severe and enduring mental health conditions often onset in adolescence and early adulthood; 75% of mental illnesses emerge before the age of 25 years, and these disorders can affect people for many decades of productive adult life. In the UK, 1 in 4 adults and 1 in 10 children experience a mental health problem every year with depression and anxiety being the most common. The cost of mental health problems is equivalent to around 5% of the UK’s GDP at over £100 billion per year.

Mental health conditions are elevated in adverse circumstances and disproportionately affect people living with chronic conditions and minority communities due to multiple inequalities, socio-economic status, discrimination and stigma. Consequences include lower help-seeking, poorer self-management and poorer mental health and general health outcomes. The Covid -19 pandemic exacerbated the level of poor mental health conditions with effects still being realised, highlighting gaps in the mental health care system and the importance of social connections to maintain good mental health.

Women's Health

We will act to improve health empowerment and outcomes for all women and girls across their lives, through joined-up, accessible care provided by multidisciplinary teams with access to cutting-edge interventions spanning community, primary care, and hospital settings.

The Problem

Women spend a significantly greater proportion of their lives in ill health compared to men despite statistically living longer. Access to health care for girls and women, and the scale of funded research programmes tackling their health needs falls woefully short. Not enough is known about conditions that only affect women such as miscarriage and menopause, and because of an under-representation of women in clinical trials we also have gaps in knowledge about how conditions affecting both men and women impact them differently. This is exacerbated by inequalities in access and quality of reproductive health care.

Integrated, Preventative Care

Support initiatives that promote the delivery of integrated, preventative care closer to/within the home by understanding, researching and implementing innovative healthcare services to match the needs of the population.

Focus on patients and communities

Prioritise the needs of patients and communities, ensuring their voices are heard and their experiences are improved. Understand how to reach and truly engage with diverse communities.

Embrace multidisciplinary models of care

Focus on training, innovations and research that support new models to integrate primary, community and mental health services

Precision population health

Capitalise on the interconnected health data across the region, the opportunities presented by our diverse population and our academic data science strengths.