Publish date: 30 October 2024
Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership Trust (AWP) has been awarded more than three quarters of a million pounds to support research into mood disorders and it’s symptoms.
The award from the National Institute of Health Research, Mental Health Translational Research Collaboration (MH-TRC), supports the set up and implementation of a Mood Disorders Research Clinic running across the AWP patch which includes Bristol, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Bath, Swindon and Wiltshire. This will provide a liaison-style service for anyone diagnosed with a mood disorder and those experiencing symptoms consistent with a mood disorder.
Hannah Antoniades, Associate Director of Research and Development at AWP said: “The submission was a true collaborative undertaking with colleagues across AWP, the University of Bristol, and Integrated Care Boards joining forces. We are excited that we will have the opportunity to help people with mood disorders who are so often under-served and give them an opportunity to be assessed by specialists and have opportunities to take part in research. Having this opportunity to deliver on our ambition of becoming an internationally recognised centre for mood disorders research is truly extraordinary. Here at AWP we are already internationally renowned for autism research, so this is another excellent development for local people.’
Work is now underway on the initial planning, service model and provision. The intention is for the service to offer appointments as close to home as possible. We expect a base in Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire and Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire for appointments/research visits as required. The service should be ready to accept referrals by April 2026.
Anyone who wants to get involved can contact Hannah Antoniades (Associate Director of Research & Development, AWP) at Hannah
