MQ Mental Health Research

MQ Mental Health Research Right now, up to one in four people around the world is living with a mental health condition. For many the experience can be painful, exhausting and isolating.

MQ invests in world-class scientific research into mental health conditions so that we can better understand, effectively treat and ultimately prevent mental illness. That’s a quarter of all people living with an illness that affects their wellbeing, their relationships with family and friends, and their ability to work. Despite extraordinary advances in treating physical health conditions, progr

ess in understanding mental illness, and research into its causes, treatments and prevention, is nowhere near equal. In fact it falls woefully short, leaving millions of people worldwide without the help and support they need. We’re here to change that. With offices in London and New York, we fund much-needed scientific research to transform the lives of everyone affected by mental illness. And with our community of supporters and an international network of talented researchers we can make this a reality.

Can an AI chatbot actually deliver therapy? A new study decided to find out properly, rather than just asking whether pe...
03/09/2026

Can an AI chatbot actually deliver therapy? A new study decided to find out properly, rather than just asking whether people enjoyed the conversation.

65 university students took part in a 30-minute CBT session with an AI chatbot, and researchers scored the sessions using the same clinical measure used for human therapists, then compared the results to previous studies on human performance.

The findings weren't straightforward. Performance varied considerably from session to session, and the pattern raises real questions about whether AI can currently deliver mental health care that's both safe and tailored to the individual.

See what the study found:

https://www.mqmentalhealth.org/ai-chatbots-show-promise-in-therapy-but-can-they-deliver-personalised-care/

02/09/2026

We use sun cream to protect ourselves before our skin gets damaged. But what about our mental health?

MQ has joined the Mental Health Foundation in calling on Andy Burnham to prioritise prevention of poor mental health in his first 100 days as Prime Minister.

Prevention is possible. Early intervention, better early years support for children and parents and more investments into research on how we can prevent mental illnesses from developing will help future generations to live happier and healthier lives.

Add your name to the list to make this call impossible to ignore 👇
https://act.mentalhealth.org.uk/stop-harm/?utm_source=mqmhr_social&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=sunblock

Could walking towards a difficult memory help someone process it? A new study looked into an unconventional PTSD treatme...
02/09/2026

Could walking towards a difficult memory help someone process it? A new study looked into an unconventional PTSD treatment that combines movement, music and immersive technology.

Researchers followed 48 Canadian participants, including military veterans, police officers, firefighters, paramedics and healthcare workers, many of whom had not responded well to previous treatments.

The results were positive enough that the team believes this approach deserves serious consideration as an option for people who haven't found relief elsewhere, though there are important limitations to be aware of too.

Find out what they discovered:

https://www.mqmentalhealth.org/could-3mdr-offer-a-new-approach-to-treating-ptsd/

"Lived experience is not an optional extra. It is evidence."Dr Lesley Booth reflects on why patient and public involveme...
31/08/2026

"Lived experience is not an optional extra. It is evidence."

Dr Lesley Booth reflects on why patient and public involvement is central to good mental health research.

A recent injury put her back on the other side of the healthcare system as a patient, and reminded her why she has spent her career advocating for people with lived experience to help shape the research that affects them.

Read her reflections:
https://www.mqmentalhealth.org/why-lived-experience-shapes-my-passion-for-mental-health-research/

AI therapy tools are growing fast, but are they ready?New research suggests large language models like chatbots can fall...
24/08/2026

AI therapy tools are growing fast, but are they ready?

New research suggests large language models like chatbots can fall short of the ethical standards expected in psychotherapy, sometimes mishandling crises or reinforcing harmful beliefs.

https://www.mqmentalhealth.org/are-ai-therapy-chatbots-safe/

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