The newly established Tackling Health inequalities and unmet Rural mental health needs In VulnErable communities across Herefordshire and Worcestershire programme (THRIVE) at the University of Worcester is funded through a NIHR Mental Health Research Leaders Award (MHLA), with more than £2.2 million dedicated to developing capacity, leadership, and a programme of research targeting rural mental health inequalities. This award is part of a significant investment in mental health research in traditionally underserved areas of England including the awarding of several Mental Health Research Groups (MHRG).
Whilst our focus is on the local area, we will work collaboratively with other MHLAs and MHRGs where our interests and focus converge. This strategy outlines a five‑year programme of research with a longer-term ambition for growth and sustainability beyond the first 5 years.
Rural communities in Herefordshire and Worcestershire experience disproportionate mental health burdens due to a combination of social isolation, poverty, limited access to services, digital exclusion, and persistent stigma. The population of the area is also ageing. Older adults are at risk of poor mental health through social isolation (through bereavement and/or lack of transport to access social activities), deteriorating physical health, and the strain of caring for a spouse or loved one.
NHS mental health data indicates that serious mental illnesses (SMI)—including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and severe depression—are increasingly prevalent in these regions and often go unrecognised until crisis point. This may be due to poor coverage of mental health support and services in rural areas, long travel times, and reduced digital connectivity.
Our focus will be on identifying, understanding, and addressing rural mental health inequalities amongst people with SMI and / or at risk of developing SMI, whilst tackling the structural inequities that underpin these.
THRIVE works collaboratively with people with lived experience, carers, NHS organisations, voluntary and community sector partners, and local communities across Herefordshire and Worcestershire. Through co-produced and inclusive research, the programme seeks to generate evidence that informs practice, policy and service development both regionally and nationally.
The THRIVE programme is organised around three interconnected themes:
THRIVE is committed to building sustainable rural mental health research capacity within the region and aims to increase participation in mental health research across rural communities and ensure that research reflects the diversity of local populations and lived experiences. The project has a focus on the cross-cutting themes of Capacity Building, Inclusive Research, and People and Community Involvement.
Cross-cutting Themes
Capacity Building
THRIVE is committed to building sustainable rural mental health research capacity within the region.
The programme supports:
THRIVE works in partnership with the University of Birmingham Institute for Mental Health and other collaborators to strengthen rural mental health research expertise and develop future research leaders.
Inclusive research
Inclusive research is central to the THRIVE programme.
Research activities seek to address inequalities linked to:
THRIVE aims to increase participation in mental health research across rural communities and ensure that research reflects the diversity of local populations and lived experiences.
The programme adopts trauma-informed and co-produced approaches throughout all stages of research
People and Community Involvement
People and Community Involvement and Engagement (PCIE) is embedded throughout THRIVE. PCIE will focus on involving a range of diverse people who have living or lived experienced (LE), or are at risk of experiencing, mental health conditions (particularly serious mental illness such as psychosis, bipolar, major depression), and who currently live in Herefordshire or Worcestershire. The programme will also strive to involve the carers of those living with, or at risk of experiencing, mental health conditions, and other members of the community with an interest in the wellbeing of this group.