CMH contributes interdisciplinary perspectives to major research initiative on preventive psychiatry

The Forte-funded centre, Uppsala Centre for Preventive Psychiatry - A National Centre for Research on Early Identification and Intervention in Severe Mental Illness, led by Simon Cervenka, Professor at the Department of Medical Sciences, will address questions about how it is possible to identify risk and prevent severe mental disorders and conditions, including suicide. The centre uses an interdisciplinary approach and aims to generate robust evidence to develop conceptual and empirical frameworks within preventive psychiatry, early detection, preventive interventions, and system integration – in order to reduce the burden of severe mental illness. The goal is to rethink key concepts in mental health, develop and validate risk models, and co-create preventive care pathways.

CMH’s role in the initiative is to strengthen interdisciplinary expertise within the organisation and contribute historical and social science perspectives on what mental illness is and how patient groups, relatives, and others experience and understand risk and risk assessment in relation to psychiatric disorders. Researchers from CMH involved in the project include Ylva Söderfeldt, Josephine Selander, Erika Sigvardsdotter, Hanna Ljungvall, and Karl Gauffin.

Forte’s long-term investment in Centre Grants provides ten years of support to promote leading research and strengthen societal impact. The total grant awarded for the first six years of this centre is SEK 47 million. Forte has also funded another centre at Uppsala University – WHOLE- Interdisciplinary Centre for Women’s Health over the Lifecourse, where CMH is also involved.