You may have seen our exciting announcement about Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust and M-RIC working with DATAMIND to further establish a Secure Data Environment for NIHR’s UK Mental Health Translational Research Collaboration. Learn more about our plans for 2026: https://ow.ly/FO9K50XLwMW

Happy New Year! We want to start the year by shining a spotlight on some of our plans for 2026. From leading on rethinking treatments for psychosis to researching social prescribing, our year is filled with exciting plans. Read more: https://ow.ly/tXuh50XLwCj

One of our proudest milestones of 2025 was the work we did with Sefton CVS to award seed funding grants to five inspiring community organisations to help them progress mental health research activities. See more of our highlights in the M-RIC Review of 2025: https://ow.ly/Ekrt50XLuLK

For the last week of the year, we're looking back at some of our milestones from 2025. We’re incredibly proud of all we have achieved, including launching the M-RIC Mood Clinic in April within Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust to support patients who have experienced problems with their mood.

From the M-RIC team, we wish you a merry Christmas filled with joy, rest and precious time with loved ones. Here’s to a happy, healthy start to the year ahead.

In M-RIC's 2025 review Hannah Davies, Chief Executive Officer for The NHSA reflects on our work: “M-RIC has been an invaluable partner to the Northern Health Science Alliance in driving forward the North’s shared ambition to deliver world-leading health research that truly benefits our communities"

“Their research projects are grounded in real-world understanding.” We’re thrilled by Dr Lesley Booth’s thoughts on M-RIC. Dr Booth is the Patient and Public Involvement, Engagement and Participation Lead Coordinator for the NIHR Mental Health Translational Research Collaboration (MH-TRC) Mission.

“As we approach the end of M-RIC’s third year of delivery, I am delighted to see the Centre going from strength to strength.” In the M-RIC Review of 2025, Dr Noir Thomas, Chief Medical Officer at Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust, reflects on M-RIC's impact. Read more: https://ow.ly/iHrn50XKZim

This year, M-RIC awarded £28,5K to community organisations in order to support grassroots mental health research projects. Find out more about this work, as well as our other stand out statistics from 2025, in the M-RIC Review of 2025.

In 2025, M-RIC was proud to collaborate with 10 industry partners. Our aim is to work with a diverse range of industry partners across digital health innovation, clinical research & technology-enabled care, reflecting our broad commitment to working with industry to improve mental health outcomes.

Prof Dan Joyce, M-RIC Co-Director and Dr Oladayo Bifarin, Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust Research Effectiveness Lead, have co-authored a piece exploring the dialogue around ‘overdiagnosis’ of conditions such as depression, anxiety, autism and ADHD. Read more: https://ow.ly/Y6E650XJLaJ

Last week we published the M-RIC Review of 2025. For a quick overview of our year, why not have a look at our year in numbers section. This includes a set of interactive graphics showcasing our key statistics and achievements from 2025. Read more: https://ow.ly/L7AN50XHwiq

The M-RIC Review of 2025 opens with an update from our Co-Directors, Prof Dan Joyce and Prof Iain Buchan. In which they reflect on the all the innovative work the M-RIC team has done this year. Read more: https://ow.ly/rhWe50XHhPF

The M-RIC Review of 2025 is here! Featuring videos, interactive graphics and more, the review is a chance to learn about some highlights of our progress and even get a glimpse into our exciting plans for 2026. Visit the M-RIC website to explore the review.

Aged 11-25? Curious about mental health research? Join our online information session this Thursday to get a feel for what it's like to be part of our young people's research advisory group. Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust

Did you see our recent exciting news? Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust has been awarded funding by the NIHR to establish a groundbreaking Secure Data Environment for NIHR’s Mental Health Translational Research Collaboration (MH-TRC). Read more: https://ow.ly/Nclq50XpelN

Aged 11-25? Curious about mental health research? Join our online information session on 11 December to get a feel for what it's like to be part of our young people's research advisory group.

Today, the Count Me In team was thrilled to visit Al-Rahma Mosque. We had a great time speaking to the local community about Count Me In, which is Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust's new way of making it easier for service users and patients to hear about and take part in research activities.

Have you seen our 'What is M-RIC' animation? 👀 We created the short animation below so service users and carers, local communities, partner organisations and beyond can learn more about our groundbreaking work: https://ow.ly/Jn4F50WFlYj

Last week, Prof Rhiannon Corcoran, co-lead Investigator on our Population Mental Health research work package, presented evidence at the House of Lords Built Environment Select Committee on the issue of social infrastructure in new town developments. Fantastic work Rhiannon!

M-RIC’s co-lead Service User and Carer Representative Hilary Tetlow believes passionately in the importance of patient and public involvement and engagement in improving mental health treatment and care. Read about how she got involved in mental health research in her new blog: ow.ly/4mUc50WFkY2

In his recent blog, Co-lead Service User and Carer Representative (SUCR) for M-RIC, Terry Bryant explains how he got involved with mental health research and how his background in business helps inform his approach to his role. You can read his blog here: ow.ly/Wk3m50WI461

We were proud to see Dr Oladayo Bifarin, our Research Effectiveness Lead and Michelle Harvey, Programme Manager for NHS Informatics Merseyside, present at last weeks #NursingLive where they spoke about building research capacity in underrepresented disciplines. Thank you everyone who attended!

Our November #newsletter is out now! Features include: 🧠 #antidepressant – and how they affect the body 🎨 Whatwecarry – a collaborative art-science project around #chronicpain ♿ #DisabilityHistoryMonth Catch up on all the latest from our BRC and partners: tinyurl.com/NovOHBRCnews...

Do you want to make a difference in health care? Alongside Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust, we launched Count Me In because we want all patients, service users and carers to have the chance to take part in research. Watch the animation below to learn more: https://ow.ly/wqqW50XeO83

Are you aged 11 to 24 and curious about mental health research? Join our online taster session tomorrow to get a feel for what it’s like to be part of our upcoming young people's researcher group. Scan the QR code to learn more and sign up.

Congratulations to the Count Me In team who have been shortlisted for a Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust Star Award! The team has been nominated for a quality, excellence and learning award for all the work they have done to introduce Count Me In, which aims to widen participation in research.

Did you know that we have a public newsletter? Sign up now to get all the latest information and updates about the exciting work M-RIC is doing to improve mental health care services and treatments. Visit mric.uk to sign up.

Exciting news! We are pleased to announce that Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust has been awarded funding by the NIHR to establish a groundbreaking Secure Data Environment for NIHR’s Mental Health Translational Research Collaboration (MH-TRC). Read more: https://ow.ly/Nclq50XpelN

M-RIC public members recently took part in a workshop to explore a research project about a social prescribing scheme called Citizens Advice on Prescription. This combines welfare and social prescription support to address the underlying causes of poor health. Read more: https://ow.ly/FG1G50Xnk7f

👏Research thrives when everyone has a voice. Mental health research is evolving. Patients, carers & communities are now active partners shaping studies from #depression to #psychosis. Discover how lived experience drives change: tinyurl.com/24bukvvf

If you are lucky enough to be attending this years #NursingLive tomorrow, make sure you don't miss Dr Oladayo Bifarin, our Research Effectiveness Lead and Michelle Harvey, Programme Manager for Informatics Merseyside, speaking about building research capacity in underrepresented disciplines.

Are you aged 11 to 24 and curious about mental health research? We're inviting you to an online taster session to get a feel for what it’s like to be part of our upcoming young people's researcher group. Scan the QR code to learn more and sign up. Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust

Have you seen our 'What is M-RIC' animation? 👀 We created the short animation below so service users and carers, local communities, partner organisations and beyond can learn more about our groundbreaking work: https://ow.ly/Jn4F50WFlYj

Register your place to attend next weeks 'Involving stakeholders in the development of technologies for Mental Health' webinar ➡️ events.teams.microsoft.com/event/9560ef...

For #BlackHistoryMonth we're celebrating the vital contributions of Black people in the mental health research landscape. Gladys Madzamba, Senior Research Nurse, works on our neuroimmune therapeutics for psychosis research and this month is reflecting on the importance of representation in research.

Next week we are hosting an exciting webinar with MindTech (NIHR HealthTech Research Centre Mental Health). ‘Involving stakeholders in the development of technologies for mental health’ takes place online on 4 November and is an opportunity to learn more about working with stakeholders.

We are proud to have worked alongside Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust's Children's Eating Disorder Service (CEDS) to launch TRIANGLE, a new digital intervention to support young people with anorexia nervosa through recovery. Read more: https://ow.ly/NWjl50XfuOC

Happy #NationalPharmacyTechnicianDay! Samantha Hewitt-Williams, Mersey Care Specialist Pharmacy Technician for Clinical Trials, is using the day to help raise awareness of the important role that pharmacy technicians play in research activities. Brilliant work Samantha!

Do you want to make a difference in health care? Alongside Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust, we launched Count Me In because we want all patients, service users and carers to have the chance to take part in research. Watch the animation below to learn more: https://ow.ly/wqqW50XeO83

We’re looking forward to meeting families from Liverpool City Region at the World Museum’s Meet the Scientists event on 18 October, 10am – 2pm. Our M-RIC children and young people’s digital health research team will be demonstrating. Learn more: https://ow.ly/nXwU50Xcg5s

We’re excited for the upcoming webinar we are hosting with MindTech (NIHR HealthTech Research Centre Mental Health). ‘Involving stakeholders in the development of technologies for mental health’ takes place online on 4 November and is an opportunity to learn more about working with stakeholders.

For #AlliedHealthProfessionsDay we're spotlighting Shruti Sharma, @merseycarenhs.bsky.social Team Lead for the Planned Therapies South Sefton Team. She's doing the NIHR Developing Leaders in Research Fellowship and is exploring supporting more AHPs to get involved in research. Well done Shruti!

"Through the new Children and Young People's Research Group, we're creating space for young voices to shape the future of mental health research" For #InternationalAdolescentHealthWeek M-RIC team member, Jenny Gilchrist, reflects on our work in children and young peoples mental health research.

Thank you to everyone who joined our #WorldMentalHealthDay event this afternoon. From thoughtful conversations to shared moments of reflection, it was a powerful reminder of the value of care and connection. @m-ricresearch.bsky.social @livunichil.bsky.social

This #WorldMentalHealthDay M-RIC Service User and Carer Representative, Tashi Thornley, is championing taking part in research and shares some of the things she does to keep her mental health on track; from running marathons to taking part in voluntary work. Read her blog: ow.ly/a05850X9avQ

Today is #WorldMentalHealthDay - a reminder to pause, breathe, and prioritise your wellbeing! DynAIRx and @m-ricresearch.bsky.social are hosting a WMHD event this afternoon to explore how digital tools can support mental health. Keep up with conversation here! #WMHD2025 @livunichil.bsky.social

We’re looking forward to meeting families from Liverpool City Region at the World Museum’s Meet the Scientists event on 18 October, 10am – 2pm. Our M-RIC children and young people’s digital health research team will be demonstrating. Learn more: ow.ly/STQ150X904W

We’re at Liverpool Central Library this afternoon to spread the word about Count Me In, our new way of making it easier for Mersey Care service users and patients to hear about and take part in research.   You can learn more about Count Me In at: www.merseycare.nhs.uk/count-me-in

M-RIC recently welcomed five Sefton community organisations for an inspiring event to celebrate what they have achieved with our Time to Talk seed funding grants awarded earlier this year. Find at more about the research projects at ow.ly/AQMF50X6Yhu