Tens of thousands of people living with severe mental health conditions are being invited to take part in a major new NHS-backed research project that could usher in a “new era” of personalised treatment for serious mental illness.
As part of GlobalMinds, the world’s largest mental health study of its kind, researchers will analyse the DNA of volunteers alongside comprehensive questionnaire responses and NHS medical records. The goal is to understand how genes, biology and background influence the onset and severity of conditions such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, psychosis and major depression.
Beginning this week, almost 50,000 patients in England and Wales who are already diagnosed with severe mental illness are being invited to participate. The recruitment process is supported by NHS England’s DigiTrials service, which contacts eligible individuals directly.
Participants will receive at‑home sampling kits to provide blood or saliva samples. Those who are more severely unwell or face digital barriers will receive additional, targeted NHS support to help them take part.
GlobalMinds will combine genetic data with participants’ survey responses and medical histories to build the most detailed dataset ever assembled on serious mental health conditions. This is expected to transform scientific understanding, improve diagnostic accuracy and pave the way for highly personalised treatments.
The study is designed not only to advance clinical knowledge but also to ensure a positive experience for participants. A dedicated Patient Public Involvement and Engagement group will help shape the project throughout.
The three‑year study is being led by Akrivia Health Ltd, a mental health data science company, in partnership with Cardiff University. It has launched first in England and Wales, with plans to expand internationally.
Already, ten NHS mental health trusts are supporting recruitment. Anyone aged 18 or over within those trust areas who has been diagnosed with a severe mental illness can volunteer. Researchers aim to recruit 49,000 people, including 1,000 people with dementia.
More than 2,000 people have already enrolled, with thousands more expected to join as NHS DigiTrials continues to contact eligible individuals. The initiative is being delivered with the support of the National Institute for Health and Care Research, and funded by the Wellcome Trust and Johnson & Johnson.
The charity Rethink Mental Illness is also a key partner, helping raise awareness among people most affected by severe mental health conditions to ensure broad and inclusive participation.
Dr Adrian James, National Medical Director for Mental Health and Neurodiversity, commented:
“This major new study could transform our understanding of severe mental illness and lead to the dawn of a new era of personalised treatments for patients with conditions including schizophrenia and severe depression.
“People living with a severe mental illness are affected by their condition every day – and it can often lead to preventable physical conditions and shorter lifespans.
“The new study gives us the opportunity to change the way we treat these conditions and we’re using the NHS’s DigiTrials service is to invite suitable people faster, fairly and at scale. I’d encourage anyone contacted to consider signing up to be part of this ground-breaking study.”
By linking genetic markers with lived experience and clinical data, GlobalMinds has the potential to reveal why some people develop more severe forms of mental illness and why treatments work better for some individuals than others.
Researchers hope the findings will support new, more targeted therapies and improve long‑term outcomes for people living with serious mental illness across the UK and beyond.
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