November 19th was International Men’s Day, the culminating moment in a month celebrating men’s mental health.

The University of York hosted two events in honour of World Mental Health Day (WMHD) 2025.

On the 4 and 5 September 2025, Dr Kyla Pennington, Senior Lecturer in Mental Health and Section Chair hosted the British Psychological Society’s Psychobiology Section Annual Scientific Meeting within the Department of Psychology at the University of York.

The Institute of Mental Health Research at York appoints its new director.

An afternoon in York exploring mental health through interactive film

This year's Great York Walk took place on Saturday 17th May

IMRY member and SAINTS PhD student Prenika Anand contributed to a workshop to discuss the use of advanced technology in supporting mental health rehabilitation.

Wednesday 30th April marked the celebratory launch of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health Research (CAMHR) which is based at the University of Hull and partnered with IMRY.

IMRY Associate Director for the Sciences Dr Scott Cairney has been awarded the Senior Translational Research Award by the British Association for Psychopharmacology (BAP) in their 2025 Psychopharmacology Awards.

Chancellor of the University of York, Dr Heather Melville OBE, hosted a special Chancellor's Circle of Influence event exploring workplace mental health challenges and opportunities.

IMRY and the Office for Philanthropic Partnerships and Alumni (OPPA) welcomed Tash Heydon, the Director of the Colt Foundation, to the University on Monday 20 January 2025.

Researchers are to look at the links between children’s mental health and smartphone and social media use as part of a Government commissioned research project.

A new study has shown that sleep deprivation can inhibit the brain’s ability to suppress unwanted memories and intrusive thoughts.

Academics from the University of York will be supporting the University of Bradford to enhance their capacity to conduct mental health research.

Psychologists at the University of York, who tested the impact that smartphones have on children’s behaviour for a new two-part documentary series for Channel 4, found that a ban in school impacted positively on sleep and mood.

Two psychologists from the University of York have been awarded more than £1.5 million each in ERC Consolidator Grants to study the impact of sleep on memory and the growing issue of online misogyny.

A new immersive film exploring the profound psychological effects of drone warfare on civilians has launched at the Imperial War Museum in London.

On Friday 22 November, we collaborated with the Movember team to bring their 'problem shared' Moustache Bench to campus to encourage conversations about men's health, and highlight our BALM programme.

Professor Simon Gilbody has been recognised in the top one per cent of the world’s most influential published scientists.

General anxiety is one of the most common mental health conditions in the UK. Many people continue to face barriers to accessing treatment, and maintaining treatment adherence remains an ongoing challenge. Video games have long been a source of emotional experience, adventure, and joy. But can they also be a tool for managing mental health? We also know that storytelling impacts positively on anxiety. So can we combine game experiences and story to create something new and potentially useful for people struggling with anxiety? Our University of York PhD research project is trying to find out more about that very question.

New research has highlighted an increase in the cost of care provided by NHS Mental Health Trusts, with the highest costs seen among working-age men and residents from England’s most deprived areas.

A new data service will work to empower individuals to understand their own online data and share it safely with researchers to help improve digital wellbeing.

Institutes at the University of York, Hull and King's College, London will partner on a new £11m Mental Health and addiction research centre.

The Children and Young People's Mental Health Policy Resesarch Group is one of three new groups being established at the University of York with the support of the York Policy Engine following a competitive process.

World Mental Health Day this year was marked by the University of York with a special sing-along event with the incredible Sofa Singers.

IMRY co-hosted an afternoon of presentations and discussion on the mental health challenges facing young people and how we might resolve these.

A new report sets out an evidence-based plan to improve the mental health of the one in five children in England with a probable mental health condition.

New research suggests a link between viewing pictures of idealised bodies on social media and feeling dissatisfied with our own bodies.

York Professors present key research project at the 2023 gathering of the Global Consortium for Depression Prevention at Brown University, Rhode Island

Researchers in York and the Netherlands have co-designed an integrated suicide prevention programme which has led to a significant reduction in deaths.

Internet-delivered cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) has greater cost-effectiveness and similar clinical effectiveness in comparison to standard care, a study has shown.

Living with and having a close bond with a companion animal does not necessarily lead to significant mental health improvements in people with a serious mental illness, say researchers.

How can we reimagine and rebuild our current healthcare system to be more inclusive and accessible for people with severe mental illness?

An event was held on Wednesday 10 May, hosted by the Department of Sociology, to mark the launch of a new book: Explaining Mental Illness: Sociological Perspectives.

Researchers have called for radical changes on a global scale to prevent the growing mortality rates of people with mental health problems.

Dr Alex Pike and Dr Melanie Forster, are releasing a video conversation to mark Mark Mental Health Awareness Week 2023.

A new study has highlighted the link between teacher burnout and their physical health.

Researchers have co-produced a series of short films with people who have experienced mental illness to show the benefits of outdoor spaces.

Advancing Public and Patient Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) in Research - an event organised by the Department of Health Sciences Contract Researchers Forum: Cristobal Catalan reviews

People with severe mental illness can struggle to self-manage long-term physical conditions and need personalised support, a new study suggests.

A new report reveals the extent of public sexual harassment (PSH) experienced by Black and minoritised girls in the UK - with many saying it has impacted on their mental health, self-esteem and identity.

The pressures of the pandemic resulted in some GPs displaying signs of psychological distress and burnout, according to a University of York-led study.

Common childhood phobias, such as fear of spiders, dogs, and needles, could be resolved in a single three-hour therapy session, compared to the several sessions that is current practice, a study has revealed.

IMRY is delighted to support 'Time to Talk Day' which for 2023 falls on 2 February. Happening every year, 'it is a day for friends, families, communities, and workplaces to come together to talk, listen and change lives'.

Professor Simon Gilbody was awarded a Higher Doctorate in Science by the University of York in the recent 2023 winter graduation ceremony.

GPs felt under-resourced, under-valued and worried about widening health inequalities during the pandemic, new research shows.

A stark digital skills deficit among people with severe mental illness means they struggle to access key services which are increasingly online, according to research by scientists at the University of York.

A new study by researchers at the University of York suggests that a substantial number of people with common mental health problems in England may go untreated.

Managers in small and micro-businesses in the UK face major challenges in supporting employees with mental health difficulties, according to a new study.

Researchers have proposed a new way of harnessing music therapy for the diagnosis, assessment and monitoring of depression.

Researchers have created a virtual reality choir to understand whether virtual singing could have the same health and wellbeing benefits as group singing in real life.

Playing sounds to people while they sleep can be used to help them to forget specific memories, a new study has revealed.

A major trial will look at whether junior mental health practitioners can deliver low-cost interventions to tackle the mental health crisis affecting children and adolescents.

University of York staff, students and alumni have joined members of the public and helped raise money to support mental health research and services by taking part in the Yorkshire Marathon.

The University of York has appointed Professor Lina Gega as the Director of the new Institute of Mental Health Research.

A major study of children aged between seven and ten in Bradford has revealed 90 per cent are exposed to issues affecting their wellbeing.

A new research programme jointly led by the University of York and Hull York Medical School will develop a psychological treatment to combat depression in young people.