Publish date: 26 October 2022
Message from Prof Joe Rafferty
The pandemic has and continues to take its toll on mental health in our many communities and we are seeing rapid growth in the number of people with mental health care needs in the North West and across the UK. Finding better and more effective ways to prevent, diagnose and treat mental illness will help our city region to cope with increasing demand over the coming years.
Research is the single most important way to accelerate improvement.
Meet the team
Our Research team has an excellent record of delivery for mental health research and we are building on these solid foundations to strengthen our talent and increase opportunities for mental health research.
To help further develop our research infrastructure I am delighted to welcome new colleagues to the Research team including our most recent appointments:
- Professor Nusrat Husain Director of Research and Innovation and Director of the Global Centre for Research in Mental Health Inequalities
- Dr Inti Qurashi, Associate Director of Research Ethics and Governance
- Dr Hetal Mehta, Associate Director of Research Engagement and Communications
- Dr Jade Thai, Programme Manager for Mental Health and Neuro Science
- Dr Anna Pearson, Research and Development Manager
- Dr Dan Joyce from the University of Oxford as the new Chair in Connected Mental Health, working between Mersey Care and the University of Liverpool, starting on the 1 December 2022.
Research must become NHS core business, and I would urge you to get involved in supporting some of the existing trials. Working side by side with patients, service users and carers, there is a role for every member of our Mersey Care family to create a learning system where research excellence is coupled with continuous service improvement
If you are interested in helping Mersey Care to become a beacon of innovative mental health research, please contact Research
PAX-D can Parkinson's disease medication help with depression?
Clinical depression is a common disorder usually treated with psychological therapies and antidepressant medication. A significant portion (2 to 3 in 10) people do not improve with current first line therapies and are regarded as having treatment resistant depression (TRD). TRD is a major problem for patients, service users and society because of the high level of suffering and associated disability. Current medicines for TRD are not particularly effective for many people and often have adverse effects which patients find distressing. There is some evidence pramipexole, a medicine commonly used in Parkinson's disease, may be effective treatment for TRD. PAX-D will compare the effects of pramipexole with a placebo when added to current antidepressant medication for people with TRD.
HOPE(S) and LD Models of Care projects meeting
Takes place on 2 November 2022,10am to 12.30pm via Eventbrite
This event promotes the collaboration between Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) and Mersey Care and our common goal to improve practice for people with learning disabilities and/or autism.
Reducing the use of practices such as long term segregation, prolonged seclusion and lengthy institutionalisation is a national priority.
Our Trust has been recognised by the Department of Health and Social Care and the Care Quality Commission as leading on work in this area.
This event is available face to face or online and aims to:
- Raise awareness regarding a longstanding collaboration between research and clinical practice in MMU Faculty of Health and Education
- Listen to people with lived experience about their journey
- Outline gaps in practice and related research in the area of learning disabilities/autism, especially with the view to improve care pathways, practice and experience of people accessing healthcare services and their significant others
- Provide opportunities for networking and future collaboration in this area.
The event is relevant to staff, clinicians, people with lived experience and other stakeholders. If you are interested, register by using the link.