You can help a generation facing a mental health crisis
Investigate the complex causes of poor mental health, explore what treatments work best and inform policies that can really help.
Young people are being let down because, despite the fact that a quarter of people are experiencing mental ill health, three quarters are not able to access the help they need. Our mental health professionals need more knowledge about the causes of mental health problems, the right kinds of interventions to tackle them, and the policies that need to be in place to prevent them.
You can help apply our specialist knowledge and expertise to provide a gateway to better treatments - including medicines, online therapies and peer support services - and more informed, effective approaches across society.
Why support mental health research at Birmingham?
Matthew Broome, Professor of Psychiatry and Youth Mental Health and the Director of the Institute for Mental Health, speaks about his research
Audio described version of Matthew Broome speaking about his work
Birmingham’s Institute of Mental Health (IMH) is the first in the UK to focus on youth mental health, led by one of only three Chairs in Psychiatry and Youth Mental Health worldwide. Our team works in partnership with mental health professionals and young people up to age 25 who are facing all kinds of mental health challenges.
Our active projects include an anti-bullying initiative in schools, working with Birmingham Children’s Hospital and founding donor HSBC UK, to address this preventable root cause of mental ill health in later life. We have also launched a pilot programme designed to work with students in recovery from addiction to alcohol, drugs, gambling or other behavioural addiction, which could provide a template approach to supporting student recovery nationwide.
What you can do
- Empower young people to shape the services they need: A gift of £5,000 could support our Youth Advisory Board and wider community so that our research is informed by the people who need mental health support services. Lizzie, a member of the Youth Advisory Board says, ‘Being involved in the University of Birmingham’s research has finally given me a voice.’
- Directly fund a PhD researcher: A donation of around £20,000 could help support a PhD student for a year, to investigate what is causing the surge in mental health needs, how we can spot those at risk earlier, what treatments are most effective in what circumstances and much more.
To start a conversation about how you can support young people’s mental health, just get in touch.