Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Research Institute

Impacting lives through collaborative research

Mental health is a global public health concern and suicide is one of the leading causes of death in young people worldwide. The aim of the Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Research Institute is to transform our understanding of mental health, self-harm, and suicide prevention in practice and policy through research.

Led by Professor Ann John and Dr Kimberly Dienes the SPMH Research Institute will transform our understanding of suicide and self-harm prevention and improving the lives of those experiencing mental health problems.

Professor Ann John

Dr Kim Dienes

Our mission is to bring together a unique mix of disciplines and expertise- social science, forensics, psychology, psychiatry, public health, geography, social science, data science, law and arts- to conduct innovative research in mental health and suicide prevention to inform underlying mechanisms, interventions and cross-government policies and to prevent and mitigate the effects of mental health problems and suicidal behaviours, particularly in marginalised and underserved groups. We also provide space for researchers, practitioners and teachers from all levels of expertise across the Faculty and wider to engage in a community of shared intent.

Our Research Areas

Social Science

Forensics

Psychology

Psychiatry

Public Health

Geography

Data Science

Law

Steering Group Members

Dr Amy Mizen, Senior Research Officer, Health Data Science

Dr Libby Ellins, Senior Vascular Scientist / Research Manager, Health Data Science

Dr Laura Cowley, Research Officer and Data Scientist, Health Data Science

Dr Kate Ellis-Davies, Senior Lecturer in Psychology

Professor Nicola Gray, Professor, Psychology

Professor Martin Clift, Professor, Biomedical Sciences

Dr Ioan Humphrey, Research Officer, Therapies

Dr Marcos Del Pozo Banos

Dr Luke Jeffries, Lecturer in Psychology

Using 'Big Data' to reduce and prevent self-harm and suicide

Helping to prevent self-harm and suicide

Why suicide prevention and mental health?

Suicide is one of the leading causes of death in young people worldwide and mental health is a global public health concern. While continuous efforts are made to prevent suicide, an urgent need exists to better understand its complex causes and to develop effective prevention strategies.

Likewise, the social, health and economic importance of mental health cannot be overstated but we are still limited in our understanding of mental health and how to improve it’s management.

Our vision is to transform lives, practice and policy in suicide and self-harm prevention and mental health through research.