Social Health Cohort Study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The Social Health of People with Severe Mental Illness: A Longitudinal Cohort Study investigating Social Connectedness and Participant Mental Health Outcomes
IRAS ID
330212
Contact name
Jennifer Lau
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Joint Research Management Office
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Social health refers to how socially connected we are - the quality and quantity of our social interactions, relationships, and support networks. Social health is an essential component of overall health alongside physical and mental well-being. Social health also encompasses the relationships within our neighbourhoods and the broader social dynamics of where we live, such as feelings of belonging, trust and experiences of stigma or discrimination. These factors can significantly influence mental health and overall well-being.
People with severe mental illness often face heightened risk of social and interpersonal challenges. These difficulties can arise from factors predating the onset of their condition, such as genetic traits, and challenging early experiences as well as the impact of symptoms of mental illness on social relationships. These social challenges may worsen illness symptoms over time and diminish overall quality of life.
About our study
This 12-month cohort study examines social health in 600 adults with severe mental illness (SMI). 50 volunteers with no diagnosis of mental illness will also be recruited as a comparison group. 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.
We’ll collect information through surveys and interviews at three points over the year. To understand social connections better, we’ll ask participants to map their personal social networks, showing who they interact with in their daily lives. We will collect blood and saliva samples to explore biological drivers of change such as stress and inflammation. We’ll also have smaller studies that collect information through questions sent to mobile phones and by asking participants to guide researchers around their neighbourhoods.Most previous studies have looked at social factors and drivers of change one at a time.
This study will explore how different aspects of social connectedness interact and affect severe mental illnesses over time.
By examining several possible causes of change together (biological, psychological and social), the research hopes to create affordable, practical treatments that focus on improving social connections, giving people benefits beyond just medication or therapy.REC name
East Midlands - Derby Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/EM/0201
Date of REC Opinion
3 Sep 2025
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion