Posted on: 17 June 2025
CNWL has partnered with the Centre for Anthropology and Mental Health Research in Action (CAMHRA), based at the University of London. Backed by funding from Research England, the centre is a first-of-its-kind.
CAMHRA is dedicated to advancing research and practice in anthropology and mental health. They want to use anthropology – the study of human culture and society – to better understand mental distress and improve care, especially in diverse populations like London. The partnership will also allow for joint opportunities in training and development for our staff.
They will be working in partnership with a number of London NHS Trusts, councils, other statutory bodies as well as voluntary and community groups.
CNWL already has a number of projects underway with CAMHRA, with many more opportunities for collaboration and education in the coming years. Doctoral students and researchers are embedded within our teams across Kensington and Chelsea and Brent, working on community-based projects, peer informed open dialogue, dementia care, and older adult services.
A key aspect of the partnership is supporting people often left out of research such as those with lived experience of mental health issues, caregiving, or service use. For example, CAMHRA has been collaborating with CNWL’s lived experience workforce and social network, One Community.
One Community was featured in CAMHRA's submission of evidence to a parliamentary inquiry on community mental health services, as a case study of good practice. Currently, the network is also hosting an anthropological research project exploring staff experience of transformation in CNWL.
CAMHRA officially launched earlier this month, with a day of discussions and workshops exploring key themes like culture, community, and evidence. Read more about the launch here.
Dr Gareth Jarvis, CNWL’s Divisional Medical Director who attended the launch, said:
"We were thrilled to be at the launch! CNWL has backed this initiative from the start, and it’s exciting to see it now take shape. There’s a real need in the mental health research landscape for deeper, more human insights and bringing in the depth of anthropology is a game-changer. Huge congratulations to Professor David Mosse and Dr Nikita Simpson for making this happen."