A MENTAL health Trust has been rated amongst the best performing mental health trusts in the country for research.

Sussex Partnership fared well in the annual league table produced by the National Institute for Health Research.

It featured in the top ten for the number of people recruited to research studies and for the number of studies on offer locally.

Clinical research studies enable patients and volunteers to contribute to learning that has a direct impact on the way mental health care is provided both now and in the future.

The NIHR consulted more than 36,000 patients and volunteers across the South East of England from all NHS Trusts and CCGs over the last two years to collect the data for the league table.

Mark Hayward, director of research at Sussex Partnership, said: “We are delighted to once again be recognised as one of the most research active mental health Trusts in England.

“Whilst talking about mental health seems to be in vogue, there is so much that needs to be learnt about mental health problems and their treatment.

“Research can play a key role in enhancing the quality of our services, and we are grateful to the service users and clinical staff who have participated within our research studies and helped us to learn.

“Our high levels of research activity are due to many of our studies being ‘home grown’.

“These studies are aligned most closely with the needs of the people of Sussex and are developed in partnership with colleagues at the Universities of Sussex and Brighton, and Brighton and Sussex Medical School.

“We are currently investing in these partnerships to build the research infrastructure that will enable us develop and conduct research studies that can make a real difference to our service users.”

The Research department runs a wide variety of studies covering all areas of mental health, including psychosis, dementia, links between brain and body and mood and anxiety.

Angie Culham, lived experience research ambassador, shares why taking part in research is valuable to her.

She said: “I didn’t feel alone with my problems anymore.

“I felt like I was helping other people with similar problems; it did my confidence the world of good.”

There are always studies looking for participants and plenty of opportunities to get involved in research.

A film about the type of research carried out at Sussex Partnership and how it shapes the future of mental health services locally can be found on Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust’s YouTube channel.