Opinions and insights about where Greater Manchester should focus its mental health research are being sought.

Health Innovation Manchester and Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership are working together to better align mental health research priorities with the current needs of our 2.8million citizens in Greater Manchester.

Historically, research has not always reflected the needs of our local population and  a new listening exercise aims to engage with residents, carers and those working in mental health to discover what the region’s priorities should be.

Currently, £615million is spent on mental health services across Greater Manchester and there are 3,981 people in GM in contact with mental health services for every 100,000 of the population compared to 2,176 nationally.

The listening exercise, which launched on 26 September 2019 and will run until 15 November 2019, follows a review of the current research activity taking place in Greater Manchester and discussions with leading clinical academics, patients and public members about how Greater Manchester generates and prioritises key research questions.

Key questions include identifying key priorities, opportunities to take a more collaborative and joined-up approach to mental health research and the challenges currently facing research.

Cara Afzal, Senior Programme Development Lead, Health Innovation Manchester, said: “We have a unique opportunity in Greater Manchester to improve the alignment of our mental health research with the needs of our Greater Manchester population and achieve our key outcomes of improving outcomes for our patients and citizens.

“We want to encourage anyone who is interested in mental health and research to have their say in the consultation and help to inform the direction we should take in Greater Manchester.”

The results of the listening exercise will also feed into the development of an update of the Greater Manchester Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy.

To take part in the consultation anonymously please visit https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/DBHVNFJ

Alternatively you can complete the questions in the document below and email the responses to consultation@healthinnovationmanchester.com

Or post it to:

Maxine Horne,
Health Innovation Manchester,
Citylabs 1.o,
Nelson Street,
Manchester,
M13 9NQ