Launch event held for transformative Mental Health Research Group led by Keele University

Leaders in mental health research gathered at Keele University this week for an official event to launch a multi-million-pound Mental Health Research Group (MHRG). 

The research centre led by Keele, known as COMPAS (Centre for Community and Primary Care Mental Health Research) was one of five funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) earlier this year, with the group securing £11m to establish a five-year research programme designed to address the mental health needs of people across the North West Midlands. 

The new research group includes colleagues from the University of Birmingham and King’s College London and works closely with the Midlands Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust and a range of community, voluntary and primary care organisations. 

The launch event this week was held to present the research programmes and themes that guide COMPAS’ activities. There was also a “world cafe” session featuring a series of discussions on topics like Research Inclusion, Public Partnerships, Policy and Impact and Wellbeing. 

MHRG Co-Directors Professor Carolyn Chew-Graham OBE and Dr Gary Lamph spoke about the priorities of the new research group which aims to provide evidence for better mental health support for people in under-served populations, including older adults, people with co-occurring mental health problems and long-term physical conditions, and people with ‘complex emotional needs’ who require more tailored care. 

Mental health difficulties are the largest cause of disability in the UK, and the Keele MHRG will focus on the North-West Midlands covering Shropshire and Staffordshire, where these conditions are also made worse in some places by high levels of poverty, unemployment and deprivation.   

Professor Carolyn Chew-Graham OBE (pictured) said: “We are excited to launch COMPAS, our Mental Health Research Group, which actually began on 1st April 2026. We have made excellent progress with recruitment to our new research and professional services posts, thanks to support from Keele systems. We have progressed well with ethics applications and are very nearly ready to start the actual research.” 

Dr Gary Lamph added: ”Researchers, public contributors, and partners have been working together now since April to set up our COMPAS centre, grow our relationships and commence our research programmes. This event provided an excellent opportunity to bring us together in person, to launch our centre officially, and to share our vision and ambition, whilst also continuing to learn from all delegates through the interactive world cafe activities at the event.  

“The investment in COMPAS from the NIHR will provide a much-needed focus into the mental health needs of underserved groups receiving support across primary care and community providers, in the North-West Midlands.”