UKRI Mental Health Networks

eNurture is one of eight Mental Health Networks set up by UKRI to bring researchers, charities and other organisations together to address important mental health research questions. Information on the other networks is provided below.

Closing the gap network

A network to understand why people with severe mental illness have some of the worst physical health issues of any section of the population. Our vision is to improve the physical health and reduce the health inequalities for people with severe mental illness.

emerging minds network

The Emerging Minds Network aims to promote cross-disciplinary and cross-sector research that has the potential to prevalence of mental health problems in children and young people. Based on extensive consultation with young people, their families, practitioners, and policy makers, our activities are focused around four main research challenges:

(1) How do we implement effective promotion of good mental health, prevention and early treatment for mental health problems at scale amongst children and young people?

(2) How can we best meet the needs of children and young people who have intersecting needs and face complex situations?

(3) How can we amplify young people's voices and change societal attitudes in ways that positively impact on mental health?

(4) How can family members, friends and settings, such as schools, be better enabled to promote good mental health and prevent and overcome emerging mental health problems.

loneliness network

The Loneliness and Social Isolation in Mental Health research network aims to encourage active cross-disciplinary research collaborations to improve our understanding of the mental health impact of loneliness and social isolation, and how this may be alleviated. We bring together researchers, policy-makers, and voluntary sector practitioners, including those with lived experience of loneliness and social isolation, spanning disciplines including clinical psychology, applied mental health research, social epidemiology, public mental health, human geography, history, civil engineering, health economics, public health, social policy, sociology, social psychology, cognitive neuroscience, architecture, geography, the arts, digital design, and human-computer interaction. By scoping the current evidence and on-going work, identifying research priorities, forging collaborations, and providing Plus Project grants for small projects, we aim to plant the seeds for work to reduce the burden of mental ill health by reducing loneliness and social isolation.

march network

The ‘MARCH’ Network proposes that Assets for Resilient Communities lie at the centre of Mental Health (M-ARC-H) and is dedicated to advancing research into the impact of these assets in enhancing public mental health and wellbeing, preventing mental illness and supporting those living with mental health conditions. Specifically, MARCH focuses on social, cultural and community assets including the arts, culture, heritage, libraries, parks, community gardens, allotments, volunteer associations, social clubs and community groups, of which there are an estimated 1 million in the UK.

SMarten network

The SMaRteN focuses on understanding student mental health in higher education. Working with researchers with a range of expertise and key stakeholders across the sector, we aim to improve the understanding of student mental health. Our network takes a Whole University perspective, with a strong focus on understanding the actions that can be taken at a non-clinical level to improve mental health and reduce the prevalence of mental health problems. Students are at the heart of our activities, with all network led activities being supported by our Student Led Research Team.

triumph network

The Transdisciplinary Research for the Improvement of Youth Mental Public Health (TRIUMPH) Network brings together young people with academics, health practitioners, and policy-makers to find new ways to improve the mental health and wellbeing of young people aged 10-24 years. Our work spans three research themes (1) social connections and relationships, (2) schools and other educational settings, and (3) key groups, including LGBTQ+ and care experienced young people. Through our Youth Advisory Group, and using a design innovation approach, we are working closely with young people to facilitate their ideas and translate these into new solution-focused approaches to improve youth mental health. 

VAMHN network

The Violence, Abuse and Mental Health Network (VAMHN) aims to reduce the prevalence of mental health problems among children, adults, and the elderly, by bringing together experts with different ways of thinking about domestic and sexual violence, abuse and mental health - some with personal experience of these issues, others with expertise from the work that they do, and survivor researchers with both. We hope to understand, prevent and reduce the impact of domestic and sexual violence and abuse on mental health.