Our 12-month cohort study will examine social health in adults with severe mental illness (SMI). With the guidance of our lived experience advisory panel, we aim to explore how social health affects quality of life over time, in daily life, and in the places people live. The study aims to recruit up to 600 people with major depressive disorder, bipolar or schizophrenia/ schizoaffective disorder from diverse regions across the UK.

Research

People impacted by SMI often live more socially isolated lives and tend to have smaller social networks than people in the general population. Studies suggest that good social support may help people impacted by SMI to cope with everyday stresses, and contribute to better quality of life, improved functioning and being better able to manage their symptoms. However, approaches to treatment for people impacted by SMI are typically centred around what happens within the care setting.

Very few approaches target the social factors which in many cases were there before the illness began and continue to affect people’s quality of life, even after treatment. This study aims to understand more about how different aspects of social connectedness, such as being around other people, being part of groups or clubs within the community or feeling supported by friends or family might lead to meaningful improvements for people impacted by SMI. We will use innovative data collection techniques which aim to get our research out of the care facilities and into people’s daily lives

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These techniques include:

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• In-depth mapping of participants’ personal social networks

• Real world data collection of daily social interactions via participants’ mobile phones

• Inviting participants to take researchers on a tour of their neighbourhoods starting from near the home to explore how these spaces and places make them feel

• Collection of blood and saliva samples to explore biological pathways which may help to explain the link between social factors and mental health outcomes for people with severe mental illness.​

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By examining several possible causes of change together, the research aims to create affordable, practical approaches to treatment that focus on improving social connections and could give people benefits beyond just medication or therapy.

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For more information contact the Social Health Cohort Study Project Manager, Dr Lenny Buxton

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