£11m for new centre for addiction and mental health research at University of Hull

The University of Hull has been awarded £11m from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) to establish a world-leading Mental Health Research Group (MHRG) to carry out essential research into addiction and mental health.

The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health Research (CAMHR) aims to significantly improve the provision of, and access to essential addiction and mental health services provided in the community, including services for children and young people. The centre's targeted research will inform how services are delivered.

Mental health problems are the single largest cause of disability in the UK. One in four adults and one in ten children experience mental illness. It is estimated 340,000 people need help for opiate and/or cocaine use and over 600,000 need alcohol treatment, with a large group of adults and young people experiencing both mental ill health and substance use.

The centre will be led by Professor Thomas Phillips, Professor of Nursing in Addiction and Professor Judith Cohen, Professor of Clinical Trials at Hull York Medical School, and Director of the Hull Health Trials Unit at the University of Hull.

Professor Phillips, Director of the centre, said: “Despite the significant pressure on public health because of substance use, it has accounted for less than three per cent of the overall mental health research activity in the last decade.

“Research, in many areas of addiction, is underdeveloped and under resourced and we urgently need to identify how to improve the provision of treatments for those experiencing co-existing substance and mental health conditions.

“Crucially, we will involve and engage with young people, patients, carers, families and local communities as active partners in our research, so that together we can make a positive difference to health and wellbeing in our region and beyond.”

An important role of the centre will be to undertake a clinical study to explore tangible solutions to the complex issue around addiction and mental health conditions in young people.

Professor Dave Petley, Vice-Chancellor at the University of Hull, said: “This centre will drive the much-needed expansion of research capacity in addiction and mental health, and bring together a world-class team of applied mental health researchers.

“It allows us to deliver a significant and sustainable addiction and applied mental health research programme addressing critical regional and national priorities, including the mental health of children and young people.

“Our research team will focus on advancing the understanding and treatment of these co-existing issues and crucially, targeting some of the most disadvantaged communities in the UK, where residents typically have poor access to effective mental health and addiction treatment.”

A core purpose of the centre will be to amplify the voices of people with lived experience, and those of their family and carers, using their experiences of addiction and mental health care to inform the programme of research.

Alison Sharpe, who is a member of the research team with lived experience, said:

“As a recovering alcoholic with 8 years sobriety, I am delighted to be involved in the establishment of this much-needed centre.

“Personally, I suffered from a lack of understanding by healthcare professionals at a time when support, trust and care was paramount to my journey of recovery.

“The fact that people with lived experience of substance use and mental health issues will be included in all aspects of the research will result in a much-improved service that is underpinned by empathy and understanding.”

The University will work in partnership with world leading academics from the Department of Addictions, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience at King’s College London and the Institute of Mental Health Research at the University of York, as well as collaborators from University of Kent, Humber Teaching NHS Foundation Trust and Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.

The centre’s target area covers a diverse population of 1.7 million people in cities, market towns, rural villages and coastal communities across the Humber and North Yorkshire, which includes some of the most deprived communities in the UK.

The initial five years of research will focus on those often hidden or excluded from treatment across three core groups:

• young people with substance use and mental health problems.
• adults with substance use disorder and mental health problems, and
• the needs of adults with alcohol-related cognitive impairments.

Lucy Chappell, CEO of the National Institute for Health and Care Research, said:
“Mental health issues can affect any of us. We know that more researchers and research participants will lead to better treatments and support for people and communities affected by mental health issues.

“These Mental Health Research Groups will target the mental health research to the areas that need it most, meaning we can quickly start to make a real difference in key areas such as young people’s mental health and addiction.”

Claire Murdoch, National Director for Mental Health at NHS England, said: “Improving access to addiction and mental health services remains an important priority for the NHS and that’s why we have invested an extra £2.3 billion into expanding services for patients.

“Mental health and addiction support is only as good as the evidence it’s based on, which is why I’m thrilled to see major new research opportunities like this, which will go a long way in helping create better services for patients.”

Anyone who would like further details of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health Research or to get in touch can email: CAMHR@hull.ac.uk or visit: https://www.hull.ac.uk/CAMHR

Alison's story

‘The danger of just one drink’

Alison Sharpe, 68, can still remember when her life was dominated by her addiction to alcohol.

“Starting my morning by drinking the remains of the wine bottle left from the night before gave me the taste to continue drinking for the rest of the day. Working from home only exacerbated the problem and it was easy to keep the much-needed supplies topped up. The wine bottle became a wine box which then turned into a Vodka bottle.”

Although Alison has now been sober for eight years, her struggles to overcome her alcohol use remain vivid.

It was in 1995 that Alison knew she had a problem with alcohol, started attending Alcoholics Anonymous but then thought she could tackle it alone. Even though her life was ‘unmanageable,’ she was unable to keep appointments, letting down her family and friends, and preferring to retreat to her bed for most of the day, Alison was in denial about the extent of her substance use – for another 20 years.

It has taken her many attempts to cut alcohol out of her life – and she hopes to call on her own experiences to help drive advances in the way those seeking help for substance use and mental health issues are supported.

“Having had first-hand experience of the current system for over 30 years, I am aware of the major short falls and lack of support for those seeking help for addiction.”

She knows that recovery is a long struggle requiring personal determination and a strong support network.

“Critical in maintaining sobriety is the constant reminder of the danger of just one drink and the devastating effect that would have. Literally a sip of champagne at a celebratory event would cause a rapid relapse and I would find myself with that bottle of vodka in my hand once again.

“Having said that – the joys of sobriety are truly wonderful. Waking up each morning without any feeling of guilt from the previous day’s activities and the feeling of freedom for the future is immeasurable. With sobriety the grass seems greener, and the birds sing sweeter.”

Alison feels the stereotype of an alcoholic: ‘living on a park bench and being seen in public taking a swig out of a bottle’ is outdated:

“I don’t think people realise that alcoholism can affect anyone – any age, any social background, indeed any profession.”

As part of her commitment to helping others, Alison is a peer mentor with East Yorkshire’s Alcohol and Drug Service and a meeting facilitator with SMART recovery. She also works with the University of Hull’s Social Work lived experience group and is a member of Involve Hull (Hull York Medical School Public and Patient Involvement group). Her role as a key member of the new research team, which will include attending the project management groups and strategic advisory groups, will be to bring her lived experience to ensure that the project remains patient-centred.