Metadata
Title
Mental Health Social Care Research Centre
Category
general
UUID
29479ae695104ecfb3ccd2a2c5323869
Source URL
https://www.york.ac.uk/business-society/research/social-work/mental-health-socia...
Parent URL
https://www.york.ac.uk/about/departments/
Crawl Time
2026-03-20T07:16:13+00:00
Rendered Raw Markdown 
# Mental Health Social Care Research Centre

**Source**: https://www.york.ac.uk/business-society/research/social-work/mental-health-social-care-research-centre/
**Parent**: https://www.york.ac.uk/about/departments/

The Mental Health Social Care Research Centre conducts research to help improve the lives of those experiencing challenges with their mental health.

### Webinar Series

The Mental Health Social Care Research Centre (MHSCRC) webinar series launches on 14 April 2026 and will run throughout the year highlighting a variety of issues and methodological approaches to mental health research.  The flyer below lists the first three webinars.  Please click on the flyer link below and then the title of a webinar to register to attend. If you would like to keep updated with research and activities at the MHSCRC please sign up to the mailing list below (in the right hand pane).  We look forward to seeing you online at any or all of the webinars and to including you in future mail outs from the Centre.

[MHSCRC Webinar Series Flyer (PDF](https://www.york.ac.uk/media/business-society/research/MHSCRC Webinar Series Flyer PDF Final 12.03.2026.pdf " (opens in a new window)")

Please feel free to also view each webinar's event page below for further information:

- [Launching the Lonely Parents Hub: evidence informed approaches to tackling perinatal loneliness through policy and practice](https://www.york.ac.uk/business-society/about/events/2026/mhscrc-lonely-parents-hub-launch/)
- [Co-production: Building Bridges, Scaling Mountains: co-producing mental health research with ‘easily ignored’ Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller communities](https://www.york.ac.uk/business-society/about/events/2026/mhscrc-co-production/)
- [Learning from the Community Navigator Trial](https://www.york.ac.uk/business-society/about/events/2026/mhscrc-learning-from-the-community-navigator-trial/)

### Introduction

Mental health is a significant issue confronting society on a global scale. Mental health problems impact upon the lives of millions of people on a daily basis. The cost of poor mental health to individuals, societies and economies is significant. However, there are many ways to maintain or improve our mental health which are within our reach.

Our mental health is supported by the communities we live in, people we see, places we go or things we do every day. Other people often provide the key to unlocking good mental health. It may be friends, family or colleagues; your GP, a mental health professional or a social care worker; or even a stranger you meet in the street; all of whom can provide vital support for you.

The Mental Health Social Care Research Centre aims to generate evidence about effective ways of improving our mental health and supporting people with mental health problems to be full citizens. It focuses on social approaches which do not rely on medication or therapy. It also explores features of our social, cultural and natural environments which are crucial for our mental health and wellbeing.

Mental health social care enables people to lead fulfilling and independent lives through personalised support, advocacy and advice. It supports people to be active citizens, with meaningful and purposeful lives, through working in and with communities. Mental health social care embraces diversity, and promotes equality and inclusion, while seeking to meet needs of individuals, families and communities. Our research helps to build the evidence base for mental health social care to enable people to obtain the support they require.

## Contact us

**Professor Martin Webber**

Centre Director - Mental Health Social Care Research Centre

- [martin.webber@york.ac.uk](mailto:martin.webber@york.ac.uk)
- [+44 (0) 1904 321203](tel:+44 1904 321203)
- School for Business and Society
  University of York
  Church Lane Building
  Heslington
  York
  YO10 5ZF‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎
  @martinwebber.bsky.social‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎
  @mhscrc.bsky.social‬

## Related links

#### Mailing List

Join our Mailing List here - [Mental Health Social Care Research Centre (MHSCRC) mailing list form](https://forms.gle/L21Tdhnv7voApSqX9)

Current Projects

[Development and Validation of a Screening Tool for Social Frailty in Older People](https://www.york.ac.uk/business-society/research/social-work/mental-health-social-care-research-centre/social-frailty-screening-tool/)

[Community Navigators Trial](https://www.ucl.ac.uk/priment/our-collaborations/community-navigator-trial)

[CARERS Trial: testing the feasibility of a skills-enhancing programme for carers](https://www.york.ac.uk/business-society/research/spsw/the-carers-trial/)

[Hidden troubles: exploring suicide risk and prevention with Gypsy and Traveller communities](https://www.york.ac.uk/business-society/research/spsw/hidden-troubles/)

[Crossing boundaries: exploring effective approaches to co-design mental health support with Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities](https://www.york.ac.uk/business-society/research/social-work/researchproject-crossingboundaries/)

[Supporting young women and young birthing LGBTQ+ people in the perinatal period](https://www.york.ac.uk/business-society/research/social-work/mental-health-social-care-research-centre/supportingyoungwomenandyoungbirthinglgbtqpeopleintheperinatalperiod/)

[Mental health and routine police work](https://vulnerabilitypolicing.org.uk/mental-health-and-routine-police-work/)

[Co-designing a perinatal walking group for Muslim mothers](https://www.york.ac.uk/business-society/research/social-work/mental-health-social-care-research-centre/perinatal-walking-group-for-muslim-mothers/)

[Developing inclusive volunteering in heritage and nature-based organisations: a mixed methods evaluation](https://www.york.ac.uk/business-society/research/social-work/mental-health-social-care-research-centre/developing-inclusive-volunteering/)

Completed Projects

[Putting the ‘Social’ into frailty](https://sphr.nihr.ac.uk/research/putting-the-social-into-frailty-operationalising-social-frailty-for-health-and-social-care-in-the-uk/)

[Community enhanced social prescribing](https://www.york.ac.uk/business-society/research/spsw/community-enhanced-social-prescribing/#d.en.928147)

[[SCENE: enhancing social networks to improve the quality of life of people with psychosis](https://www.york.ac.uk/business-society/research/social-work/mental-health-social-care-research-centre/scene-research-project/)](https://www.york.ac.uk/business-society/research/spsw/icmhsr/themes-and-projects/scene-research-project/)

[Section 17 leave: supporting unpaid carers](https://www.york.ac.uk/business-society/research/social-work/mental-health-social-care-research-centre/supporting-unpaid-carers/)

[Finding solutions for perinatal loneliness](https://www.york.ac.uk/business-society/research/spsw/perinatal-loneliness/#d.en.933320)

[[Supported volunteering](https://www.york.ac.uk/business-society/research/social-work/mental-health-social-care-research-centre/icmhsr-project-supported-volunteering/)](https://www.york.ac.uk/business-society/research/spsw/icmhsr/themes-and-projects/icmhsr-project-living-well-chronic-disease/#d.en.923367)

[Living well with chronic disease](https://www.york.ac.uk/business-society/research/social-work/mental-health-social-care-research-centre/icmhsr-project-living-well-chronic-disease/)

[Connecting People](https://connectingpeople.net/):

- [Pilot study](https://connectingpeople.net/research/pilot-study/)
- [Implementation study](https://connectingpeople.net/research/implementation-study/)
- [Adaptations for bonded labourers in Nepal](https://connectingpeople.net/research/nepal/)
- [Sababu intervention in Sierra Leone](https://connectingpeople.net/research/sierra-leone/)
- [Implementation in New Jersey, USA](https://www.york.ac.uk/business-society/research/social-work/mental-health-social-care-research-centre/connecting-people-pilot-new-jersey/)

[[The Connect Project](https://www.york.ac.uk/business-society/research/social-work/mental-health-social-care-research-centre/pkf/)](https://www.york.ac.uk/business-society/research/spsw/icmhsr/themes-and-projects/pkf/)

[[Mental health training for police](https://www.york.ac.uk/business-society/research/social-work/mental-health-social-care-research-centre/icmhsr-project-training-police/)](https://www.york.ac.uk/business-society/research/spsw/icmhsr/themes-and-projects/icmhsr-project-training-police/)

[WaveLength evaluation](https://www.york.ac.uk/spru/projects/wavelength-loneliness-isolation/)

[[Mental effectiveness training](https://www.york.ac.uk/business-society/research/social-work/mental-health-social-care-research-centre/icmhsr-project-mental-effectiveness/)](https://www.york.ac.uk/business-society/research/spsw/icmhsr/themes-and-projects/icmhsr-project-mental-effectiveness/)

[[Street triage evaluation](https://www.york.ac.uk/business-society/research/social-work/mental-health-social-care-research-centre/icmhsr-project-street-triage/)](https://www.york.ac.uk/business-society/research/spsw/icmhsr/themes-and-projects/icmhsr-project-street-triage/)

Research Networks

[Lived Experience Network for Scholars (LENS)](https://www.york.ac.uk/business-society/research/social-work/lived-experience-network-for-scholars/)

[Nature-based interventions in the early years network](https://www.york.ac.uk/business-society/research/social-work/mental-health-social-care-research-centre/nature-based-interventions-network/)

[LGBTQ+ Families Research Network](https://www.york.ac.uk/business-society/research/social-work/mental-health-social-care-research-centre/lgbtq--families-research-network/)

## Who we are

[Prof Martin Webber](https://www.york.ac.uk/business-society/people/martin-webber/) (Director) uses a range of methodologies to explore effective ways to support people and their mental health. He specialises in intervention studies and evaluations of innovative social approaches to improving mental health.

[Dr Beth Casey](https://www.york.ac.uk/business-society/people/beth-casey/)’s research to date has focused on the development and evaluation of social interventions for people experiencing mental health problems. She is committed to producing research that involves the contribution of marginalised or disadvantaged groups, including those that access health and social care services.

[Dr Nicola Moran](https://www.york.ac.uk/business-society/people/nicola-moran/)’s research interests centre around communicating with people in mental distress, unpaid carers and mental health, the interface of mental health and the criminal justice system, social interventions for people experiencing mental ill health, and mental health training for non-mental health professionals (including police officers and social workers).  While predominantly a qualitative researcher, Nicola has experience of a range of methodological approaches.

[Dr Chandani Nekitsing](https://www.york.ac.uk/business-society/people/chandani-nekitsing/) has a background in Research and Health Psychology and has worked on a range of health behaviour projects across lifespan (including mental health, human appetite, health screening and uptake of physical activity). More recently working on a [NIHR funded Community Navigator Trial looking at developing and testing a programme of support to increase community connections and reduce loneliness for people with long-term depression](https://www.ucl.ac.uk/priment/our-collaborations/community-navigator-trial).

[Dr Ruth Naughton-Doe](https://www.york.ac.uk/business-society/people/ruth-naughton-doe/) is an applied mental health researcher currently working with under-served perinatal populations to address the social determinants of mental ill health. 

[Dr Laura Tucker](https://www.york.ac.uk/business-society/people/laura-tucker/) is a mental health and social care researcher and a qualified social worker, with experience in collaborative research with marginalised and excluded groups. Her research interests include professional roles in mental health, especially mental health social work, public and patient involvement and mental health interventions with ‘hidden’ populations.

[Dr Kyle Schwartz](https://www.york.ac.uk/business-society/people/kyleschwartz/) is an interdisciplinary researcher with a background in human geography and public health focusing on the wellbeing of marginalized and excluded groups, particularly in the context of mobility, conflict, or disaster. He specializes in ethnographic and collaborative approaches to fostering partnerships with ‘hard-to-reach’ communities to support service access, influence policy, and address systemic inequalities.

## Related links

#### Mailing List

Join our Mailing List here - [Mental Health Social Care Research Centre (MHSCRC) mailing list form](https://forms.gle/L21Tdhnv7voApSqX9)

## Contact us

**Professor Martin Webber**

Centre Director - Mental Health Social Care Research Centre

- [martin.webber@york.ac.uk](mailto:martin.webber@york.ac.uk)
- [+44 (0) 1904 321203](tel:+44 1904 321203)
- School for Business and Society
  University of York
  Church Lane Building
  Heslington
  York
  YO10 5ZF‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎
  @martinwebber.bsky.social‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎
  @mhscrc.bsky.social‬