We propose solutions and campaign for change to address the underlying causes of poor mental health.
Building on the evidence from our work in Northern Ireland, we have five policy priorities that we believe need to be progressed here.
- There is an urgent need to deliver an action plan for promoting mental health through early intervention and prevention, as set out in the Mental Health Strategy 2021-31.
- Reduce the mental health effects of social and economic inequalities, building a mental health lens into strategies to reduce poverty and social exclusion.
- Create a communities mental health and wellbeing fund to support good mental health.
- Upskill teachers and school staff to provide appropriate mental health and wellbeing support.
- Every at-risk child or adolescent should have access to a mentoring programme.
Featured reports
Northern Ireland Manifesto 2022
Too many people in Northern Ireland experience mental distress that could be prevented. Who will commit to taking action that empowers every person and community in Northern Ireland to thrive with good mental health?
Uncertain times: Anxiety in the UK and how to tackle it
For Mental Health Awareness Week 2023, we published this report to look at the prevalence and rates of anxiety amongst different groups of people, consider the main ways of coping with anxiety and provide recommendations to governments across the UK for preventing anxiety.
Mental health and the cost-of-living crisis report: another pandemic in the making?
Our report gives an overview of the current and likely effects the cost-of-living crisis has on people’s mental health. We cannot ignore the potentially devastating impact the cost-of-living crisis has on mental health.
The economic case for investing in the prevention of mental health conditions in the UK
Our new report with the London School of Economics and Political Science provides evidence from the UK and around the world that proves prevention interventions work.
Zero-hours contracts and mental health
We know that poorly paid and insecure work is linked to poor mental well-being, but there is limited research on the specific mental health effects of a zero-hours contract. Learn more in our report and policy briefing on the impacts zero-hours contracts have on mental health.
Surviving or Thriving? The state of the UK's mental health
This 2017 report aimed to understand the prevalence of self-reported mental health problems, levels of positive and negative mental health in the population, and the actions people take to deal with the stressors in their lives.
Better mental health for all: A public health approach to mental health improvement
In this report, we examine what can be done individually and collectively to enhance the mental health of individuals, families and communities by using a public health approach and look to support the development of knowledge and skills in public mental health.
Poverty and mental health
This paper presents a conceptual framework for understanding the relationship between poverty and mental health and offers recommendations to improve the situation across the life course.