What’s Missing in Mental Health Research?
The UK has a wealth of valuable mental health data, including large-scale studies and long-term records that could greatly improve understanding, prevention, care, and treatment of mental health conditions. However, these resources are underused due to challenges in coordinating research efforts, especially given the differences in how data is collected, stored, and shared. Barriers to effective collaboration across sectors and difficulties in accessing and sharing data reduce the impact this data could make to lives.
How We’re Making a Difference
Funded by the Medical Research Council, DATAMIND serves as the Hub for Mental Health Informatics Research Development. We are transforming mental health research by ensuring that data is findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable (FAIR). This is how we are driving positive change:
Better Use of Mental Health Data
We provide secure, easy access to mental health data through resources like the HDR UK Innovation Gateway and our own Trusted Research Environment (TRE). Improving access to NHS records, cohort studies, and digital health data, means we help researchers, policymakers, charities, and industry drive meaningful improvements in mental health care.
Our work, such as the Severe Mental Illness and Cardiometabolic Risk Factors report, explores the availability and quality of electronic health record (EHR) data across the UK, helping researchers better understand the connections between physical and mental health. By identifying gaps in data recording and standardisation, we ensure mental health data is more usable and impactful, leading to real-world improvements in care and policy.
Encouraging Collaboration Across Sectors
We connect researchers, industry, charities, and policymakers to share insights and align efforts, ensuring that mental health research is impactful and integrated.
Our Industry Forums engage technology, pharmaceutical, and health data companies to explore cutting-edge solutions. We also support the next generation of mental health data scientists through our Early Career Researcher (ECR) workshops and Data Science Meetings with MQ Mental Health, helping them connect, share knowledge, and develop new ideas and innovations.
Involving the Public
We ensure that people with lived experience play a central role in shaping how mental health data is used in research, making it more relevant, ethical, and impactful. Our people with lived experience of mental health conditions, known as the LEAG, guide DATAMIND’s work promoting inclusive, responsible research and strengthening the public voice.
LEAG members have contributed to and led on many DATAMIND initiatives, including:
- Shaping the DATAMIND Glossary, making mental health data science more accessible to everyone.
- Publishing “How will AI make sense of our messy lives and improve our mental health?” in Frontiers, exploring AI’s role in mental health research from a lived experience perspective.
By embedding patient and public involvement and engagement (PPIE) at every stage, we ensure that mental health research stays focused on the people who share their data.
Driving Innovation
Guided by our Executive Team and Strategic Advisory Board (SAB), DATAMIND connects experts across research, policy, and industry to advance mental health data use.
As the mental health data science hub of the Mental Health Platform, we provide the infrastructure and expertise to support research into severe mental illness. We also work with the Mental Health Mission, strengthening clinical trials and advancing new treatments through data-driven insights and informatics.
We support AI-driven research, including Natural Language Processing (NLP), to extract insights from electronic health records (EHRs) and other mental health datasets. By integrating AI, genomics, and big data, we help drive mental health discoveries, improve diagnosis, and inform personalised treatment approaches.
And this is just part of our work – DATAMIND is constantly pushing the boundaries of mental health research, ensuring data-driven discoveries lead to real improvements in care and treatment.
Our Mission
We aim to improve mental health care and outcomes by making better use of data, encouraging collaboration, and ensuring the public is involved at every stage. Our platform supports researchers and organisations across the UK, enabling coordinated, integrated, and innovative mental health research to improve lives.
We focus on:
- Ensuring public and patient involvement so mental health data is used in ways that are ethical, transparent, and benefit patients.
- Enhancing access to high-quality mental health data while upholding FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable).
- Strengthening mental health data infrastructure to support research, policy, and innovation.
- Developing tools and resources to help researchers and policymakers access, understand, and use mental health data more effectively.
- Encouraging collaboration across research, healthcare, charities, and industry to maximise impact.
- Addressing inequalities in mental health research by supporting diverse and underrepresented groups.
We also address key challenges in mental health research, including inequalities in data access, the links between mental and physical health, severe mental illness (SMI), and support for children and young people. By focusing on these areas, we help researchers, policymakers, and healthcare providers translate data into meaningful improvements in mental health care.
Who we work with
Patients & Public
ensuring research is shaped by lived experience and public priorities through initiatives like our Lived Experience Advisory Group (LEAG)
Healthcare Professionals
working with clinicians and NHS partners to improve mental health care by making data more accessible and useful for frontline services
Industry Experts
collaborating with health technology, AI, and pharmaceutical sectors etc to develop and apply data-driven solutions in mental health
Researchers & Academics
enabling access to high-quality mental health data and supporting data-driven discoveries
Policy Makers
providing evidence-based insights to help shape national and local mental health policies
Schools & Education Partners
supporting youth mental health research and interventions using data-driven approaches
NHS & Charities
ensuring mental health data research leads to real-world improvements in care and support services
Our Key Services & Infrastructure
Central Data Hub
Securely unites anonymised, UK-wide FAIR mental health data
Secure TRE
Safe platform for sensitive research and data analysis
Smart Tools
Advanced and coding resources to simplify data discovery and analysis
Consultancy
Expert support, and scientific advice
Learn More
Want to learn more? Meet the team behind DATAMIND, explore our services, or subscribe for updates. If you have questions or want to collaborate, get in touch with us today!
Get in Touch datamind@swansea.ac.uk
