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The IoMH has established public engagement grants scheme to encourage better engagement of the public with mental health research.
Successful applications for our Public Engagement (PE) grants scheme 2023/2024
The IoMH have successfully awarded Public Engagement grants to fund three proposals that promote mental health research to the wider public.
Setting the agenda for mental health research: Using creative methods to engage young people
Lead applicant(s): Dr Christina Carlisi (UCL Clinical, Education and Health Psychology), Jessica Hughes-Nind (UCL Psychology and Language Sciences), Jessica Norman (UCL Psychology and Language Sciences).
Description: Together with the Art Room at Place2Be, a leading children's mental health charity with 25+ years’ experience providing in-school support and expert professional development to improve the emotional wellbeing of children and young people (CYP), we will run an arts workshop with 11-18-year-olds to identify mental health research priorities. During the workshop, CYP will make pieces of visual art communicating what they think key priorities in mental health research should be. UCL researchers will provide a short, interactive overview of the mental health research process and landscape in age- and ability-appropriate language.
People with aphasia telling stories through visual art: Leaves on the tree of life
Lead applicant: Dr Michael Dean (UCL PALS Language and Cognition)
Description: The aim of this project is to engage members of the public in work on the impact of aphasia on people’s lives. Aphasia refers to the language and communication difficulties many people experience following brain injury, such as a stroke. The impact of these difficulties is far reaching: few people with aphasia can work, their social networks reduce in size, and anxiety and depression rates are higher than in people who have had a stroke but do not have aphasia.
The project will involve two groups of people with aphasia working with a visual artist to create a joint piece of art. The form of the final work will be determined by the participants, but it will be developed through their telling of personal narratives, and expressing these in drawing, with photographs and written words. The final work will be the centre of an exhibition open to members of the public.
Raising awareness on the relationship between mental health and diet quality in adults using Food banks
Lead applicant(s): Dr Efstathia Papada (Division of Medicine), Dr Anastasia Kalea (Division of Medicine), Professor Nathan Davies (Division of Medicine)
Description: Food banks play a crucial role in aiding individuals facing food insecurity, and addressing the connection between mental health and diet quality can contribute to well-being. Research suggests that poor mental health is increasing in adult users of food banks.
The proposed activity is to increase awareness of the importance of balanced nutritional choices in mental health in users of food banks. We will achieve this through an educational workshop in collaboration with mental health professionals, nutritionists, and community leaders and through the production of information brochures, pamphlet, or leaflet that will explain the impact of diet on mental health and will provide practical tips for improving diet quality. We will also conduct a survey to evaluate understanding of these concepts before and after the workshop, gather feedback, as well as explore the users’ suggestions for further activities that they would find helpful.