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Craig Morgan
Craig Morgan

Professor Craig Morgan

Professor of Social Epidemiology

  • Co-Director of ESRC Centre for Mental Health

Research interests

  • Mental Health

Biography

Craig Morgan is Professor of Social Epidemiology at the Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London. He is also co-founder and co-director of the cross-faculty ESRC Centre for Society and Mental Health.

His research is focused on social and cultural influences on the onset, course and outcome of mental disorders, particularly during adolescence. He leads several multi-country programmes on these topics, funded by, among others, the MRC, Wellcome Trust, ESRC, and European Union.

He has published over 250 academic papers on these topics, and edited three books, including Society and Psychosis, published by Cambridge University Press, and Principles of Social Psychiatry, published by Wiley-Blackwell. He leads the Lancet Psychiatry Commission on Psychoses in Global Context and is editor-in-chief of the journal Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology and Honorary Professor at the University of Hong Kong.

Research interests

  • Social influences on the aetiology, course and outcome of psychoses and other mental disorders
  • Epidemiology of psychoses and other mental disorders
  • Adolescent mental health
  • Culture, ethnicity, and mental disorder
  • Research methodology, particularly strategies for statistical analyses of causal pathways, interactions, and trajectories of disorder
  • Philosophy of mental disorder

Teaching

Craig Morgan leads MSc modules in epidemiology and statistics and teaches on several other modules, covering a range of topics related to his research interests.

    Research

    vrlab_banner-image_children_placeholder
    IoPPN Virtual Reality Lab

    The IoPPN Virtual Reality Research Lab (VR Lab) is a world-leading multidisciplinary group dedicated to VR based research, assessment and treatments to improve mental health, enhance well-being and promote resilience.

    UNIQUE-Logo--Standard-A4-Size-at-600dpi-A556
    UNIQUE Research Group

    UNIQUE Research group carries out a range of sudies involving people who experience persistent, full-blown psychotic experiences but are not in need of care

    depression-news
    Social change, transitions and youth mental health

    Investigating whether widespread social changes are linked to the rise in mental health problems among young people.

    Project status: Ongoing

    ebrain-cropped-780x440
    e-BRAIN

    e-BRAIN: The impact of early adversity on trajectories of brain maturation and mental health in young adolescents

    Project status: Ongoing

    main-mental-health
    AESOP-10

    This project is studying the causes of ethnic differences in the cause and outcome of psychosis.

    Project status: Ongoing

    centre-society-mental-health
    Social Epidemiology Research Group

    The Social Epidemiology Research Group primarily focuses on how social contexts, interactions and experiences shape the occurrence, outcome, and management of mental health problems. Our goal is to provide evidence on the relationships between all aspects of society and mental health problems that can inform the development of interventions, mental health services, public health programmes, and social policies in order to prevent the onset and improve outcomes of mental health problems.

    Mental Health
    Social and Economic Predictors of the Severe Mental Disorders: The SEP-MD Data Linkage Study

    Linking health records and census data to advance understanding of mortality, in-patient admissions and worklessness among people with severe mental illness.

    Project status: Ongoing

    News

    Arts must form an integral part of modern health and social care, report shows

    The landmark Creative Health Review report was launched at Science Gallery London at King’s

    APPG Creative Health Web Resize

    A Mentally Healthier Nation: support from ESRC Centre for Society and Mental Health

    The new ‘A Mentally Healthier Nation’ report by the Centre for Mental Health has called for cross-cutting policy to increasing mental health. The report’s...

    People in a Street

    New funding to continue the comprehensive research programme on psychoses in diverse settings in the Global South

    Over £3 million funding from the Medical Research Council (MRC) has been awarded to Professor Craig Morgan at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology &...

    globes

    Pandemic may have triggered second 'midlife crisis' for over-50s

    British adults experienced highest-ever levels of poor mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic, triggering a second ‘midlife crisis’.

    mental-health-assessment-hero

    Generational inequalities in mental health accelerated with the COVID-19 pandemic

    Generational inequalities in mental health widened over the course of the UK’s COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new peer-reviewed study published in the...

    deaton-inequality-hero

    REACH team recognised for work improving adolescent mental health

    A team of King’s researchers generating new information on the impact of social factors on young people’s mental health has been shortlisted for a Public...

    The REACH team

    Increase in mental distress among young people from disadvantaged backgrounds following the start of the COVID-19 pandemic

    New research from ESRC Centre for Society and Mental Health (CSMH) and the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) at King’s College London...

    Teenager

    REACH Festival for Young People

    The REACH project is due to host the Festival for Young People in Brixton on Wednesday 27th October.

    REACH logo transparent

    Excess deaths in people with mental health conditions increased during the COVID-19 pandemic

    A study based on more than 160,000 patients has revealed greater number of deaths amongst those with mental health conditions and intellectual disabilities...

    carerwithnurse

    New policy briefing calls for action to mitigate the impacts of the pandemic on the mental health of young people

    Researchers at King’s College London and Oxford University have outlined a series of recommendations to address anticipated short- and long-term challenges...

    Girl at school with mask. Photo by Muneer ahmed ok on Unsplash

    Events

    18Apr780x440-special-issue-launch-image

    Launch event: Theorizing the social in mental health research and action

    What does a social perspective on mental health look like? And why does it matter? Join us as we explore these questions at our launch of the special issue...

    Please note: this event has passed.

    30NovDept Pop Health Sci standard 780x450

    Seminar with Professor Craig Morgan

    Seminar with Professor Craig Morgan (title to be decided)

    Please note: this event has passed.

    17JunBBBT Main 780x440

    Build Back Better Together WORLD: we got this podcast Live Episode

    WORLD: we got this podcast Live Episode

    Please note: this event has passed.

    21Janmental health day

    The Impact of Modern Society on Mental Health (12pm GMT)

    The impact of rapid social change on mental health, is one of the major challenges of our time.

    Please note: this event has passed.

    21Janmental health day

    The Impact of Modern Society on Mental Health (2.30pm GMT)

    The impact of rapid social change on mental health, is one of the major challenges of our time.

    Please note: this event has passed.

    23MarLondon

    Centre for Society & Mental Health launch event

    Launch event of the new ESRC Centre for Society & Mental Health at King's College London, with a performance by the Soothsayers

    Please note: this event has passed.

    Features

    World Mental Health Day: understanding the role of our society

    On World Mental Health Day, the ESRC Centre for Society and Mental Health is highlighting the need to understand how societal systems, structures and...

    Busy society at tube

    How can communities come together to partner for change?

    Reflections on the ESRC Centre for Society and Mental Health Partnering for Change Festival 2022

    CSMH Fest- Hero image

    Youth Mental Health and Covid-19: How can we build back fairer?

    In 2021, a Policy Lab was held as the culminating event of a jointly run conference exploring the impacts of COVID-19 and related responses on the mental...

    policy briefing 3

    Shifting the Narrative: Reflections from the CSMH Conference

    As the inaugural ESRC Centre for Society and Mental Health conference draws to a close, we reflect on key messages and helpful resources shared by our speakers.

    pedestrians-400811_1920

    World Mental Health Day 2020 - King's contribution to understanding and treating mental health

    Our world-leading research and community initiatives, together aim to find solutions to some of the challenges faced for people living with mental illness,...

    World Mental Health Day

    Mental health and social change in the time of COVID-19

    Efforts to contain and delay the spread of COVID-19 has transformed our social worlds. Yet, we need be wary of rushing to frame them in terms of mental health.

    photo: John Cameron, Unsplash

    Understanding the impacts on society of COVID-19

    How the Faculty of Social Science & Public Policy is helping us understand the huge societal shifts created by the COVID-19 pandemic.

    empty stores hero sized

      Research

      vrlab_banner-image_children_placeholder
      IoPPN Virtual Reality Lab

      The IoPPN Virtual Reality Research Lab (VR Lab) is a world-leading multidisciplinary group dedicated to VR based research, assessment and treatments to improve mental health, enhance well-being and promote resilience.

      UNIQUE-Logo--Standard-A4-Size-at-600dpi-A556
      UNIQUE Research Group

      UNIQUE Research group carries out a range of sudies involving people who experience persistent, full-blown psychotic experiences but are not in need of care

      depression-news
      Social change, transitions and youth mental health

      Investigating whether widespread social changes are linked to the rise in mental health problems among young people.

      Project status: Ongoing

      ebrain-cropped-780x440
      e-BRAIN

      e-BRAIN: The impact of early adversity on trajectories of brain maturation and mental health in young adolescents

      Project status: Ongoing

      main-mental-health
      AESOP-10

      This project is studying the causes of ethnic differences in the cause and outcome of psychosis.

      Project status: Ongoing

      centre-society-mental-health
      Social Epidemiology Research Group

      The Social Epidemiology Research Group primarily focuses on how social contexts, interactions and experiences shape the occurrence, outcome, and management of mental health problems. Our goal is to provide evidence on the relationships between all aspects of society and mental health problems that can inform the development of interventions, mental health services, public health programmes, and social policies in order to prevent the onset and improve outcomes of mental health problems.

      Mental Health
      Social and Economic Predictors of the Severe Mental Disorders: The SEP-MD Data Linkage Study

      Linking health records and census data to advance understanding of mortality, in-patient admissions and worklessness among people with severe mental illness.

      Project status: Ongoing

      News

      Arts must form an integral part of modern health and social care, report shows

      The landmark Creative Health Review report was launched at Science Gallery London at King’s

      APPG Creative Health Web Resize

      A Mentally Healthier Nation: support from ESRC Centre for Society and Mental Health

      The new ‘A Mentally Healthier Nation’ report by the Centre for Mental Health has called for cross-cutting policy to increasing mental health. The report’s...

      People in a Street

      New funding to continue the comprehensive research programme on psychoses in diverse settings in the Global South

      Over £3 million funding from the Medical Research Council (MRC) has been awarded to Professor Craig Morgan at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology &...

      globes

      Pandemic may have triggered second 'midlife crisis' for over-50s

      British adults experienced highest-ever levels of poor mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic, triggering a second ‘midlife crisis’.

      mental-health-assessment-hero

      Generational inequalities in mental health accelerated with the COVID-19 pandemic

      Generational inequalities in mental health widened over the course of the UK’s COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new peer-reviewed study published in the...

      deaton-inequality-hero

      REACH team recognised for work improving adolescent mental health

      A team of King’s researchers generating new information on the impact of social factors on young people’s mental health has been shortlisted for a Public...

      The REACH team

      Increase in mental distress among young people from disadvantaged backgrounds following the start of the COVID-19 pandemic

      New research from ESRC Centre for Society and Mental Health (CSMH) and the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) at King’s College London...

      Teenager

      REACH Festival for Young People

      The REACH project is due to host the Festival for Young People in Brixton on Wednesday 27th October.

      REACH logo transparent

      Excess deaths in people with mental health conditions increased during the COVID-19 pandemic

      A study based on more than 160,000 patients has revealed greater number of deaths amongst those with mental health conditions and intellectual disabilities...

      carerwithnurse

      New policy briefing calls for action to mitigate the impacts of the pandemic on the mental health of young people

      Researchers at King’s College London and Oxford University have outlined a series of recommendations to address anticipated short- and long-term challenges...

      Girl at school with mask. Photo by Muneer ahmed ok on Unsplash

      Events

      18Apr780x440-special-issue-launch-image

      Launch event: Theorizing the social in mental health research and action

      What does a social perspective on mental health look like? And why does it matter? Join us as we explore these questions at our launch of the special issue...

      Please note: this event has passed.

      30NovDept Pop Health Sci standard 780x450

      Seminar with Professor Craig Morgan

      Seminar with Professor Craig Morgan (title to be decided)

      Please note: this event has passed.

      17JunBBBT Main 780x440

      Build Back Better Together WORLD: we got this podcast Live Episode

      WORLD: we got this podcast Live Episode

      Please note: this event has passed.

      21Janmental health day

      The Impact of Modern Society on Mental Health (12pm GMT)

      The impact of rapid social change on mental health, is one of the major challenges of our time.

      Please note: this event has passed.

      21Janmental health day

      The Impact of Modern Society on Mental Health (2.30pm GMT)

      The impact of rapid social change on mental health, is one of the major challenges of our time.

      Please note: this event has passed.

      23MarLondon

      Centre for Society & Mental Health launch event

      Launch event of the new ESRC Centre for Society & Mental Health at King's College London, with a performance by the Soothsayers

      Please note: this event has passed.

      Features

      World Mental Health Day: understanding the role of our society

      On World Mental Health Day, the ESRC Centre for Society and Mental Health is highlighting the need to understand how societal systems, structures and...

      Busy society at tube

      How can communities come together to partner for change?

      Reflections on the ESRC Centre for Society and Mental Health Partnering for Change Festival 2022

      CSMH Fest- Hero image

      Youth Mental Health and Covid-19: How can we build back fairer?

      In 2021, a Policy Lab was held as the culminating event of a jointly run conference exploring the impacts of COVID-19 and related responses on the mental...

      policy briefing 3

      Shifting the Narrative: Reflections from the CSMH Conference

      As the inaugural ESRC Centre for Society and Mental Health conference draws to a close, we reflect on key messages and helpful resources shared by our speakers.

      pedestrians-400811_1920

      World Mental Health Day 2020 - King's contribution to understanding and treating mental health

      Our world-leading research and community initiatives, together aim to find solutions to some of the challenges faced for people living with mental illness,...

      World Mental Health Day

      Mental health and social change in the time of COVID-19

      Efforts to contain and delay the spread of COVID-19 has transformed our social worlds. Yet, we need be wary of rushing to frame them in terms of mental health.

      photo: John Cameron, Unsplash

      Understanding the impacts on society of COVID-19

      How the Faculty of Social Science & Public Policy is helping us understand the huge societal shifts created by the COVID-19 pandemic.

      empty stores hero sized