Involvement in clinical mental health research can be a challenge for services isolated from academic institutions, limiting opportunities for patients to receive innovative interventions and for clinicians to explore interest in research. We aimed to increase mental health research capacity in Somerset NHS Foundation Trust via a range of initiatives from collaboration between a senior clinician and research and development colleagues.

Over the course of the project, the number of participants recruited to National Institute for Health and Care Research-adopted mental health and dementia research projects quadrupled over a 2-year period, from 57 to 232, and the number of projects hosted rose from 9 to 23. A total of 165 clinicians signed up to receive information about ongoing studies.

We found considerable appetite for becoming involved in research among mental health clinicians, and were able to provide opportunities for research experience as well as access to innovative studies for local patients.

To investigate associations between maternal ethnicity and involuntary mother and baby unit (MBU) admission, adjusting for potential confounding variables. Data from electronic records in a Scottish MBU (July 2012 to January 2024) were analysed with logistic regression.

A total of 450 first admissions were analysed. The proportion of patients from Black, Asian, Mixed or other ethnic minorities who were admitted involuntarily (n = 8/48, 38%) was twice that of White British patients (n = 66/364, 18%) with White not British patients showing an intermediate proportion (n = 12/38, 32%). In the unadjusted model, being of Black, Asian, Mixed or other minority ethnicity was associated with involuntary admission (odds ratio 2.7, 95% CI 1.4–5.2; P = 0.002), as was being of White not British ethnicity (odds ratio 2.1, 95% CI 1.0–4.3; P = 0.04997). Association were attenuated after adjustment for potential confounders, including psychosis.

We identified racial inequalities in a perinatal mental health setting. The drivers of these differences are likely multifactorial.

Depression severity is a well-established risk factor for suicidal ideation, but the extent to which sociodemographic and employment-related factors contribute independently remains unclear.

Complete data from doctors (N = 4055) presenting to National Health Service Practitioner Health (NHS-PH) in 2022–2023 were used to test the hypothesis that depression severity is the largest determinant of suicide ideation risk (defined by Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9) question 9 score) among doctors.

Using PHQ-8 score (PHQ-9, excluding the item on suicide ideation) as a proxy for depression severity, the case–control discriminatory capacity of receiver operating characteristic curves (AUCs) were evaluated for (a) a univariable model studying modified PHQ-9 alone as the predictor of severe suicide ideation; and (b) a multivariable model integrating modified PHQ-9 and multiple sociodemographic and employment factors as the predictor of severe suicide ideation. Models were compared both descriptively and through a likelihood ratio test.

The univariable model using depression severity alone as the predictor of severe suicide ideation yielded an AUC of 0.921. The addition of sociodemographic and employment factors improved the fit significantly (likelihood ratio test with (χ2(14) = 50.26, P < 0.001), amended AUC 0.930). Having both a disability and a relationship status of ‘no partner’ was significantly independently associated with suicide ideation in the multivariable model.

In this national cohort of doctors, depression severity was strongly associated with suicidal ideation. However, disability and lack of a partner were also independently linked to increased risk, suggesting that suicidal ideation is not solely driven by symptom severity. Social and functional factors may help identify higher-risk individuals and inform targeted support.

Despite overlapping diagnostic criteria and aetiology, the frequency of complex post-traumatic stress disorder (C-PTSD) in people being treated for borderline personality disorder (BPD) is unknown.

To establish the frequency and correlates of probable C-PTSD in people meeting the diagnostic criteria and being treated for BPD.

C-PTSD was assessed in 87 patients meeting the diagnostic criteria for BPD and initiating treatment in out-patient personality disorder services in the UK, using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis II Personality Disorders diagnostic interview, items from the Structured Interview for Disorders of Extreme Stress – Self Report and other measures. The cross-sectional association between C-PTSD and demographics, trauma and clinical variables was evaluated with logistic, ordinal and linear regression.

A total of 93% of participants reported a trauma history (95% CI 88–98%), and 57% met the criteria for probable C-PTSD (95% CI 47–67%). Previous sexual trauma increased the odds of probable C-PTSD (odds ratio 6.22, 95% CI 2.21–17.54, P < 0.001). Probable C-PTSD was associated with an increased odds of self-harm in the past 12 months (odds ratio 9.41, 95% CI 1.87–47.27, P = 0.01) and higher levels of abandonment fears (odds ratio 2.78, 95% CI 1.17–6.55, P = 0.02), abandonment–avoidant behaviour (odds ratio 4.25, 95% CI 1.30–13.91, P = 0.02) and identity instability (odds ratio 4.39, 95% CI 1.79–10.78, P < 0.01).

C-PTSD symptoms are likely to be common in people diagnosed with BPD, and are associated with higher overall psychiatric severity, with potential implications for formulation and treatment.

Singapore conducted its second nationwide mental health literacy survey in 2023, following the first survey in 2015.

This study aimed to ascertain the population’s beliefs about the helpfulness of treatments for mental illnesses in Singapore, and assessed changes over an 8-year period.

A nationally representative cohort (n = 4195, aged 18–67 years) was interviewed between September 2022 and February 2024, which replicated the methods of the 2015 survey (n = 3006, aged 18–65 years). Using a vignette-based approach, 3002 respondents rated the perceived helpfulness of 28 treatment options for alcohol abuse, dementia, depression, obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) and schizophrenia as either ‘helpful’ or ‘harmful’. Weighted prevalence, stratified by vignettes and logistic regressions, were performed.

Counselling was most frequently rated as being helpful for alcohol use disorder (94.0%) and depression (95.2%), while seeing a psychiatrist was most frequently rated helpful for schizophrenia (93.0%), dementia (85.1%) and OCD (91.6%). Across all vignettes, informal help sources, including family (80.8%) and friends (74.7%), were considered less helpful than mental health professionals, except for ‘counselling over the phone’ (58.8%) and ’seeing a general practitioner’ (69.8%). Participants in 2023 were significantly more likely to endorse psychologists, counsellors and phone counselling as being helpful than in 2015. Face-to-face help was considered more helpful than over-the-phone professional help, highlighting the continued need for a personal touch in mental health services.

Overall, there has been an improvement in the perception of the helpfulness of mental health professionals, but targeted interventions to improve the perception of mental health services by general practitioners and institutions are essential.

We aimed to quantify attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism assessment requests, and explore correlations with public interest and COVID-19 restrictions. We collected data on referrals to adult ADHD or autism services, Google searches for ‘autism’ or ‘ADHD’, birth gender ratios, ADHD prescriptions in England and COVID-19 restriction measures in four countries.

ADHD assessment demand tripled from July 2020 to January 2023, with Google searches for ADHD rising in parallel. Autism referrals and searches saw smaller, similarly timed rises. Female referrals outstripped males. ADHD prescriptions rose particularly in those aged 30–34 years. Google searches for ADHD unexpectedly rose from July 2020 in four countries, correlating with sustained intensity of national COVID-19 restrictions.

Public interest may have driven demand for ADHD assessments, with COVID-19 restrictions encouraging social media use facilitated by easy electronic information access. The public has decided that ADHD is important, independent of professional views. It is now critical that a consensus is reached to determine who benefits most from an ADHD diagnosis and medication.

Given the complex challenges facing people experiencing homelessness, existing mental health recovery models are probably insufficient for this population.

To investigate qualitative accounts of mental health personal recovery in people with experience of homelessness, and to adapt the widely adopted connectedness, hope, identity, meaning and empowerment (CHIME) model of personal recovery to better represent the experiences of this population.

PROSPERO registration no. CRD42023366842. A systematic review identified qualitative studies investigating first-person accounts of mental health personal recovery in people with experience of homelessness. Nine databases were searched: CINAHL, SCOPUS, Embase, Medline, PsychINFO, PubMed, Web of Science, ASSIA and Social Services Abstracts. Risk of bias was assessed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) Qualitative Studies Checklist. Included studies underwent ‘best fit’ framework synthesis, comprising deductive analysis using the CHIME first- and second-order themes, as well as inductive analysis to capture aspects not covered by the a priori framework.

The review expanded the CHIME model and identified the following recovery processes in this population: security and stability; encouragement and hope; constructing identity; understanding and meaning; relationships and connectedness; and empowerment and dual recovery (SECURED). Importantly, security and stability were identified as a necessary prerequisite for the other recovery processes. Challenges within each recovery process were also identified.

SECURED offers a transdiagnostic framework to support understanding of mental health personal recovery in the context of homelessness. Findings support the Housing First model of service provision. However, findings also highlight that housing alone is not sufficient and that the other processes must also be supported.

The Resilience Hub was established to support people in need of psychological/psychosocial support following the 2017 Manchester Arena terrorist attack.

To use mental health screening measures over 3 years following the Arena event to examine the variation in symptoms reported by adults registered with the Hub, and whether this was associated with treatment access characteristics.

Adults engaging with Hub services were separated into eight cohorts depending on when they registered post-incident. Participants completed screening measures for symptoms of trauma, depression, generalised anxiety and work/social functioning. Baseline and follow-up scores over 3 years were compared among the eight admission groups. All types of appointment were recorded in terms of the number of minutes of clinical ‘contact time’ involved, to explore associations with time taken to register.

Overall, baseline screening scores increased as time to register post-event increased. Over the 3 years of follow-up, a decrease in scores was observed for all 4 screening measures, indicating improvement in mental well-being. Those taking longer to register had higher follow-up scores. However, they showed a slightly stronger decrease in average change of score per follow-up month. Mean contact time per month was greater (apart from the 18-months admission group) in individuals delaying registration. Increased contact time was associated with decreased follow-up screening scores for depression and anxiety.

People who registered earlier were less symptomatic, suggesting there may be a potential beneficial impact of early engagement with support services following traumatic events. All who registered showed improvement in symptoms, including those delaying registration, with increased contact time being beneficial. This reinforces the benefits of encouraging early and sustained engagement with services as soon as possible post-incident.