A ‘call to action’ has been issued to seek mental health innovations that have the potential to transform service user access, experience and clinical outcomes.

Mental health is a key priority for the East Midlands Academic Health Science Network (EMAHSN) and it is estimated that there are over 1 million East Midlands adults who will experience a mental health problem in 2015, including many older adults living with cognitive impairment, dementia or depression.
The Network will provide support and funding of up to £300,000 for innovative projects. The call has been issued to organisations from the NHS, third sector, local authorities, , industry and academia, and it follows on from EMAHSN’s ‘Innovation Exchange’ event, which took place in October 2015 and attracted over 150 attendees from across these sectors and from those who have experience of mental health difficulties.

EMAHSN Managing Director Professor Rachel Munton said: “Mental illness is a key priority for us and a huge health challenge for our region: one in four people in the East Midlands are likely to experience a mental health problem this year.

“We have funding available to support industry and the NHS to rapidly identify solutions that have already been shown to help people. Where we come in is helping to spread these innovations across the whole East Midlands.”

The call for proposals aims to identify proven innovations that can be quickly spread throughout the East Midlands; improving health outcomes and patient experience, as well as delivering greater efficiencies.

In particular, following a recent consultation with EMAHSN’s partner organisations across the region, proposals that address the following key priority areas will be prioritised for funding and support:

• Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS)

• Ensuring mental and physical health services are equally valued and prioritised (Parity of Esteem)

• Supporting people in a crisis period of mental distress / illness

• Suicide prevention

One person backing the call for proposals is Rachel Phillips from Nottinghamshire, who is the Co-Chair of the East Midlands Public and Patient Involvement Senate. Rachel, who attended the recent Innovation Exchange event and shared her experiences, said: “Developing innovations in mental health is not just important for people who experience mental health problems, but also for their friends and family. We need to ensure that all people have access to consistent, gold standard care.”

Rachel has recorded a video about her own experiences of depression.

Dave Waldram, a service user from Derbyshire, is also backing the call for proposals. He said: “Mental health provision is a growing concern and anything that can be done to help improve services and spread best practice throughout the East Midlands is an important opportunity”

- ends –

Note to editors:

The East Midlands Academic Health Science Network (EMAHSN) is one of 15 Academic Health Science Networks in England. EMAHSN brings together the NHS, universities, industry and social care to transform the health of the region’s 4.5M residents and stimulate wealth. Current priorities focus on identifying and spreading innovations that address challenges including cancer, obesity, diabetes, mental health, respiratory disease, stroke, liver disease and support for frail older people.

East Midlands Mental Health Data Report

Call for proposals. Deadline for applications Friday 18 December 2015

Media enquiries: Chris Taylor 0115 748 4242 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Lucy Hose 0115 748 4243 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.