About the Department of Health Service & Population Research
The overall goal of the Department of Health Service & Population Research (HSPR) is to conduct world-leading research and education using the social and health sciences to better understand and to improve health outcomes, systems, and care both locally and globally, with particular focus on disadvantaged and marginalised populations.
HSPR is multi-disciplinary, including health care professionals, epidemiologists, economists, implementation scientists, qualitative methodologists, service users, social scientists, and statisticians. We work with academic, clinical, and policy organisations locally in London and the UK, and internationally in low, middle, and high-income countries.
HSPR aims to:
- Understand the onset of mental health problems
- Develop strategies for prevention and influence policy
- Improve access to evidence-based mental health services
- Improve the quality of mental health services
- Achieve the best outcomes for service users and their families
- Promote service user recovery and the rights of service users
- Challenge stigma and discrimination
Our research involves the rigorous application of the methods of mental health sciences to better understand population health and health systems and to evaluate the efficacy and implementation of services and treatments. This is carried out in seven Research Groups:
Our teaching includes:
The Health Service and Population Research Department was founded in 1999 by Sir Graham Thornicroft, Professor of Community Psychiatry.