Jennifer Lau, Professor of Youth Resilience and Co-Director of the Youth Resilience Unit at the Wolfson Institute of Population Health, is leading a research hub as part of a £22.5 million initiative by the Medical Research Council (MRC) to enhance diagnosis, treatment, and support for individuals with severe mental illness (SMI).
This national effort will establish five research hubs, with Queen Mary hosting one focusing on “building recovery and resilience in severe mental illness: leveraging the role of social determinants in illness trajectories and interventions”. The hub aims to uncover the impact of social determinants on the progression and outcomes of SMIs and explore how positive social factors can foster resilience and support recovery in affected individuals. Professor Lau highlighted the diversity and health inequalities prevalent in East London, underscoring the need to address social conditions influencing mental health outcomes.
The initiative builds upon the establishment of the Youth Resilience Unit (YRU) at Queen Mary in 2020, which received £2.8 million in funding from Barts Charity. The YRU focuses on understanding and equipping young people in East London, where high levels of deprivation contribute to significant mental health challenges, with the tools and resources to combat depression and anxiety.