The University of Lincoln has officially launched the Lincolnshire Unit for Mental Health Research (LUMHR), a major new initiative funded by a £10.96 million award from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The unit aims to address mental health inequalities across Lincolnshire by fostering collaboration between researchers, health professionals, and local communities.
Formally launched on Tuesday 3 November, LUMHR seeks to strengthen mental health research capacity in the county and develop evidence to inform improvements in services, prevention, and support for local residents. The launch event brought together researchers, individuals with lived experience, NHS and public health leaders, local government representatives, and community organisations to discuss how research can address the specific challenges faced by Lincolnshire’s rural, coastal, and more deprived communities.
The Unit's work will be guided by three core research themes: Connect, Prevent, and Respond. These themes will focus on understanding mental health needs and inequalities, exploring prevention opportunities, and strengthening responses to mental health difficulties and crises. Contributions at the launch included insights from Andy Bell, Chief Executive of the Centre for Mental Health, who discussed mental health inequalities in rural and coastal areas.
Professor Nima Golijani-Moghaddam, Co-Lead of LUMHR, highlighted the shared ambition and enthusiasm for the initiative, stating the need to strengthen mental health research in Lincolnshire to meet local needs and inform decisions. She emphasised the crucial role of people with lived and professional experience in shaping the research.
The launch also introduced public co-investigators who will help ensure that lived experience and local knowledge influence research priorities. A panel discussion involving representatives from Lincolnshire County Council, the NHS, and the University of Nottingham explored the opportunities presented by the partnership, including enhancing local research expertise and developing sustainable approaches to improving mental health outcomes.
Professor David Dawson, Co-Lead of LUMHR, noted that the investment provides Lincolnshire with a significant opportunity to build upon existing work across communities, health services, and the voluntary sector. He reiterated that lived experience will be central to LUMHR, guiding research questions and solutions to support good mental health in the region and beyond.
The NIHR MHRG: Lincoln is one of seven new groups established across England with a £55 million NIHR investment, aimed at bolstering mental health research in areas with significant need and historically limited research activity. LUMHR aims to establish Lincolnshire as a hub for collaborative, community-focused mental health research.
