Mental Health Research Programme
Since the Trust’s inception, we have recognised the importance of identifying the unique impact of Service life on the mental and related health issues of personnel, families and veterans and have supported the development of evidence-based interventions and support pathways to help those experiencing difficulties. Our Mental Health Research Programme aims to identify projects that have promising potential to assist in supporting and improving the mental health of the Armed Forces community.
Mental Health Research Programme Steering Group
As part of the programme, a steering group of experts from within the mental health field provides assessment of eligible project proposals to help inform FiMT’s grant decision-making. The Group also contributes to the strategic direction of our mental health work, research priorities and commissioning process.
The Group is chaired by the Chief Executive of the Centre for Mental Health, and incorporates strict protocols on handling any conflicts of interest concerning the proposals. The conflict of interest register is publicly available and can be viewed here. MHRP Steering Group member organisations are carefully selected to ensure independent expertise and a broad skill base including policy, NHS (and devolved-nation equivalent), military and non-military academia, and third sector representation.
Research priorities
A key output from the Steering Group is to review and assess the validity of research priorities which, in no particular order, are currently:
- Alcohol and substance misuse, including effective and appropriate interventions.
- Understanding where there’s a need for services aimed specifically at veterans (including peer support workers).
- Methods to improve help-seeking rates, and to help overcome barriers to help-seeking.
- The efficacy of military and veteran charities to provide effective mental health support.
- Impact on families, including aggressive behaviour, violence and domestic abuse.