ESRC Centre for Society and Mental Health

Many people experiencing mental ill health are trapped in cycles of worsening social exclusion. This article, 'Moving beyond Individual Placement and Support (IPS): person-centred approach to social inclusion and mental health', discusses this further.

www.cambridge.org/core/journal...

@hannakienzler.bsky.social

A few years later: The lasting impact of Better Connect & ESRC Centre… In 2021-2023 the ESRC Centre for Society and Mental Health and Better Connect collaborated on research looking into experiences of keyworkers working on the Action Towards Inclusion employability…

New blog out!

'A few years later: The lasting impact of Better Connect & ESRC Centre for Society and Mental Health's partnership'

#impact #betterconnect #ActionTowardsInclusion

www.kcl.ac.uk/a-few-years-...

We're delighted to announce that both our Lived Experience Advisory Board and Dr. Gemma Knowles were nominated for the Research Impact Award and Postgraduate Education Award respectively.

The Lived Experience Advisory Board went on to win!

Huge congratulations!

@kingsioppn.bsky.social

@centreformh.bsky.social in light of your recent posts, we thought this might be interesting ⬆️
@catherinehale.bsky.social @annieirvine.bsky.social @benbgeiger.bsky.social

Gathering the evidence to reform the welfare system The recent DWP Green Paper, entitled ‘Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working’ has provoked a great deal of discussion from policymakers, from researchers, and from dis...

While almost all observers agree that social security in the UK isn't working as it should be, it's essential that any reforms are grounded in high-quality research evidence and listen to the voices of those most impacted: www.kcl.ac.uk/news/spotlig...

How can schools better support #LGBTQ+ students, especially those belonging to other minority groups? The STEPS programme, from IoPPN and @kingscsmh.bsky.social worked with teachers and young people to co-produce research to contribute to a culture of change.
#SchoolsDiversityWeek #PrideMonth

Find out more about how the CONNECT study is reframing mental health research among racially and ethnically minoritised groups in South East London:

www.connectstudy.co.uk

@kingscsmh.bsky.social

2025 King's Distinguished Alumni Award winners announced Each year, members of our alumni community are nominated to receive a King’s Distinguished Alumni Award. This recognises their outstanding achievements since leaving our institution. Meet the amazing ...

Delighted to see Dr Souci Frissa, CEO of our partners at Black Thrive, winning a Distinguished Alumni award!

www.kcl.ac.uk/news/2025-ki...

A promotional graphic for the Research Methods Rendezvous, which takes place online on 10 September and 29 October 2025.

NCRM has opened applications to participate in the Research Methods Rendezvous!

This free event will explore the process of turning early-stage ideas into #research projects.

#RMR2025 takes place online on 10 September and 29 October 2025.

Apply: www.ncrm.ac.uk/training/RMR...

How CSMH's REACH study input youth voices into the recent Black Voices… In 2023, the REACH Study team was invited to contribute to the Black Voices on Policing consultation for the Mayor of London’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC), and we, as the YPCC (Young…

📘Read about how the REACH study at the ESRC Centre for Society & Mental Health provided input into the Black Voices on Policing Consultation Report for the Mayor of London @london.gov.uk. Hear from Jonas Kitisu, our REACH Young Person Community Champion.
www.kcl.ac.uk/youth-voices...

Study finds links between social media and loneliness depend on the app New research finds that although overall time spent online is linked with higher levels of loneliness, use of social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter is not.

New research led by the University of Greenwich in collaboration with IoPPN + @kingscsmh.bsky.social suggests although overall time spent online is linked with higher levels of loneliness, use of social media platforms may not be. #SocialMedia #Psychology

New event alert!

*Mental health in context: work and welfare transitions over time* with Dr.Annie Irvine @annieirvine.bsky.social

📅 25 June 2025 16:00 - 17:00

Sharing findings from a UK study exploring factors around work & welfare benefits

Info and sign up: www.tickettailor.com/events/esrcc...

@kingscollegelondon.bsky.social

@quahrc.bsky.social

@refugeestogether.bsky.social

@refugeeaction.bsky.social

@helenbamber.bsky.social

@refugeestudies.bsky.social

@4refugeewomen.bsky.social

@counterpoints.org.uk

@hannakienzler.bsky.social

You're invited! 🌍

Join our Refugee Mental Health & Place Series talk with Dr Nooralhaq Nasimi MBE: Post-Migration Realities: What Can Grassroots Teach Us About Refugee Mental Health?

🗓️ 17 June | 🕓 16:00–17:30 BST

Sign up here: www.tickettailor.com/events/esrcc...

We are looking for a communications manager!

Learn more about the role and requirements here:
my.corehr.com/pls/coreport...

Conceptualising workplace loneliness: a qualitative investigation with UK workers - Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology Purpose Loneliness has been identified as an important risk factor for mental health problems, and concern about its impact on workers’ health and wellbeing has grown in recent years. While a body of ...

Read more below ⬇️

@kingscsmh.bsky.social @kingsioppn.bsky.social @larseneault.bsky.social

doi.org/10.1007/s00127-025-02925-0

Tue 27.05, join us!

Refugee Mental Health and Place Series: Music and the meaning of place, a case from the Middle East

Exploring the relationship between music & place, and the implications that might be pertinent for understanding mental health in cultural context.

www.kcl.ac.uk/events/refug...

In 2023, Dolly made a series of DWP 'Fit for Work' Dolls. The doll boxes are in the colour of the Jobcentre logo, green and yellow, a branding not of corporate identity but a branding holding disabled pain. Each box has a different kind of doll to show who the DWP have declared 'fit for work', including people in comas, people with multiple health conditions, terminally ill people and people driven to suicide by the DWP. On the back of each box is a list of names of actual humans who have died in those circumstances. Dolly writes, “I wonder why we don't give children toys to show what their government is like”.

In 2023, Dolly made a series of DWP 'Fit for Work' Dolls. The doll boxes are in the colour of the Jobcentre logo, green and yellow, a branding not of corporate identity but a branding holding disabled pain. Each box has a different kind of doll to show who the DWP have declared 'fit for work', including people in comas, people with multiple health conditions, terminally ill people and people driven to suicide by the DWP. On the back of each box is a list of names of actual humans who have died in those circumstances. Dolly writes, “I wonder why we don't give children toys to show what their government is like”.

A new legal duty should be placed on the DWP to fix its “deficient” safeguarding practices following many deaths.
committees.parliament.uk/committee/16...

@kingscsmh.bsky.social
www.kcl.ac.uk/reforming-uk...
@dollysen.bsky.social DWP 'Fit for Work' Dolls

In light of Sir Charlie Mayfield's report on work and disability on @todayshow.com we wanted to resurface 'The 39 Steps Realising the potential of Flex Plus working for disability inclusion' report...

www.kcl.ac.uk/csmh/assets/2025/39-steps-flex-plus-working-disability-inclusion-report-2025.pdf

Today we’ve published our new 2025-2030 strategy 🎉

We’re working for a world in which the vicious cycle of money and mental health problems is broken.

🎬 Watch our Chief Executive @helenundy.bsky.social explain and read more here 👇

🔗 www.moneyandmentalhealth.org/about-us/our...

Join us! 27.05.25

Refugee Mental Health and Place Series: Music and the meaning of place, a case from the Middle East

Exploring the relationship between music & place, and the implications that might be pertinent for understanding mental health in cultural context.

www.kcl.ac.uk/events/refug...

🎶 You're invited! Join us for an exciting online talk in our Refugee Mental Health & Place Series with Dr Tala Jarjour: Music & the Meaning of Place – A Case from the Middle East
🗓️ 27 May | 🕓 16:00–17:30 BST
🔗 Sign up: www.kcl.ac.uk/events/refug...

New opportunity to work with us: Postdoctoral Research Associate in Work,Welfare & Mental Health

Working with @benbgeiger.bsky.social & Prof. Karen Glaser, an interdisciplinary team of researchers, academic & community partners.

For more about the role and to apply: my.corehr.com/pls/kclrecru...

True scale of welfare cuts ‘closer to £9bn’, experts warn Experts warn 100,000 more people plunged into poverty by cuts than government previously estimated

Prof Ben Baumberg Geiger's analysis featured in The Independent this week: 'True scale of welfare cuts ‘closer to £9bn’, experts warn'.

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...

‘Of course I ask myself will I make a difference, will my involvement be just mere tokenism? Well, I have been a member of the LEAB at the ESRC Centre for Society and Mental Health (CSMH) at King’s and believe we are having impact.’ Rachel Hill

and Rachel's reflections live here: www.kcl.ac.uk/ioppn-resear...

IoPPN Research Culture Insights: Lived Experience Advisory Board (Part… The Lived Experience Advisory Board (LEAB) at the Centre for Society and Mental Health is a critical part of the Centre’s governance structure and is embedded within research programmes, pursuing…

Our Lived Experience Advisory Board (LEAB) Co-ordinator, Rhea Sookdeosingh, and LEAB member, Rachel Hill, wrote a 2 part series for the @kingsioppn.bsky.social sharing their thoughts on lived experience involvement, and it's impact on the Centre’s culture.

Rhea: www.kcl.ac.uk/ioppn-resear...

Last night we celebrated receiving our three years further funding with an event at King's College London. We had Professor Sir Bashir M. Al-Hashimi, Vice President of Research & Innovation to give our welcoming speech.

Thanks to everyone involved and to everyone who came last night!

Multimillion pound research project to explore mental health in Essex | University of Essex The University of Essex’s Institute for Public Health and Wellbeing (IPHW) has been awarded £2.5 million by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) to bolster research into mental h...

We're excited to be partnering with the University of Essex in a project to explore mental health in Essex, working with local communities and mental health care providers to understand what improvements can be made.

www.essex.ac.uk/news/2025/04...

Gender gap in teenage depression is larger in London than Tokyo The gender gap in teenage depression is twice as large in London versus Tokyo, a new study from King’s College London revealed.

Great to see Gemma Knowles' @knowlesg42.bsky.social research around mental health in young people in London and Tokyo also featured in SW Londoner this week!

www.swlondoner.co.uk/news/0304202...