University of Hull
Alison Sharp, a participant in the research process, said she struggled with a lack of understanding from medical professionals.
A university has been awarded £11 million in funding to carry out research into addiction and mental health.
The center, located at the University of Hull and due to open on November 1, will carry out clinical research to improve access to services in the local community.
The project is led by Professor Thomas Phillips, who said substance abuse accounted for less than 3% of mental health research over the past decade.
“There is an urgent need to identify ways to improve treatment delivery for people with co-occurring physical and mental health conditions,” he added.
The university says mental health problems are the biggest cause of disability in the UK, with one in four adults and one in 10 children experiencing a mental illness.
It is estimated that 340,000 people need help with opiate use and more than 600,000 people need help with alcohol treatment.
University of Hull
Professor Phillips will lead the Center for Addiction and Mental Health Research at the University of Hull.
Alison Sharp, a member of the research team and a recovering alcoholic who has been sober for eight years, said: “I have struggled with the lack of understanding from medical professionals.
“The fact that people with experience of substance use and mental health problems are included in all aspects of the research will lead to significant improvements in services, supported by empathy and understanding.”
The Center for Addiction and Mental Health Research, which is funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research, will cover the Humber and North Yorkshire regions.
