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Get in touch with us if you would like to stop being contacted about research opportunities. 

What is research and how does it help?

Health research looks at ways of understanding health needs and keeping people healthy. It has helped develop many of the services and treatments we use today.   

South London and Maudsley is the UK's leading mental health hospital for research and teaching. Every year, 1,000s of people take part in research with us - many say it's a positive experience, and value contributing to the future of healthcare.  

When more people have the chance to take part, we can improve mental health care for everyone. It especially helps if research includes as many people as possible from different backgrounds , genders and ages – so it is as inclusive as it can be .   

What does taking part in research involve?

  • Taking part could mean completing a survey, sharing your experiences in an interview, or trying a new treatment or therapy.  

  • Research studies either take place in person or online. If they're in-person, they will usually be located around our clinical services in south London.  

  • You may be paid for your time and travel expenses – this depends on the individual study. 

For more information on what you could expect, and to hear from other people who have taken part in research, please visit our webpage ‘How taking part in research works’ 

What research is South London and Maudsley doing?

We want to better understand how to improve mental health . Our research is looking at many conditions, such as ADHD, psychosis and dementia, across all ages, from young children to older adults.

Find out more about our research by  reading about the findings of our research here.  

Will this affect my care?

Whatever you decide, it will not affect your care. 

What happens if I am in crisis, or very unwell – will you still contact me about research?

Where required by the research protocol, researchers will check with the relevant clinical team before getting in touch with a patient or service user. If the clinical team advises that this would not be suitable, the researcher will not make contact. If a person lacks capacity to make decisions about their care, the researcher may contact their carer instead. 

What if I am a carer, parent, friend or family member of a service user?

If you help make decisions about someone's care, we may contact you about research opportunities on their behalf. You can discuss with them whether they would like to hear about research opportunities and can opt out at any time if you do not wish to receive this information.    

There are also research studies aimed specifically at carers - search for studies on the Take Part in Mental Health Research website here.  

Does this apply to child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) as well?

Yes. Research and You applies to children and young people receiving care from CAMHS.  

How research opportunities are discussed depends on a young person's age and circumstances. Parents, guardians and carers may be contacted where appropriate . Young people who are able to provide their own consent (usually 16 years and above) can choose whether they want to hear about and take part in research.    

If you use myHealthE , you can follow the link on the myHealthE platform to learn more .   

How often will you contact me with new research opportunities?

This will depend on how many studies are suitable for you. We will send you every study which is relevant to you; this is unlikely to be more than around one every month.  

Will you still contact me with research opportunities after I've been discharged or no longer using services at South London and Maudsley?

We will contact you for up to one year after you have been discharged from our Trust. This is to enable us to understand people's recovery longer-term. 

Can I take part in research anonymously?

When you take part in a research study, you may be asked to provide personal information when consenting. However, any information that could  identify  you is stored securely and kept separate from the study information. This means that the results will be reported anonymously, and you will not be identifiable in any publications or reports.  

If I opt out of being contacted, are there other ways to take part in research?

Yes - you can look for studies on the Take Part in Mental Health Research webpages and sign up yourself.  

You can also get involved by joining our Research Club, or working with researchers to shape how they carry out their research. Find out more on our Get Involved in Research pages. 

How will you use my data?

  • Only researchers working in, or approved by South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust , can check whether a study may be suitable for you. They will look at your electronic health records held by the Trust to do this.  

  • Your data will never leave the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust data environment, or be shared with any other organisations .   

  • All studies are approved by NHS ethics experts and established processes , as well as a committee that includes people with lived experience of mental health conditions.   

  • We will contact you because South London and Maudsley is a ‘ research-active ’ NHS Trust, and offering our patients research opportunities is part of the services we provide. This complies with UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR).  

Is this related to Consent 4 Contact (C4C)?

Yes. This is replacing C4C in April 2027. If you are currently opted-in to C4C you will continue to hear about opportunities to take part in research.  

If you have opted-out of C4C, we will contact you to ask if you would like to change your mind or remain opted-out of hearing about research.  

Is this related to the Clinical Record Interactive Search (CRIS)?

Research and You and CRIS are different: Research and You is about whether we can contact you about research opportunities that may be relevant to you. 

CRIS is a secure system that allows approved researchers to use information from electronic health records in South London and Maudsley that has been de-identified (so it cannot be used to identify you) for research. 

If you choose not to hear about research opportunities through Research and You, this does not affect how information is used through CRIS. Click here for more information on CRIS. 

Is this the same as the NHS England's National Data Opt-Out (NDOO)?

No, this is not related to the NDOO. This only relates to whether South London and Maudsley can contact you about research opportunities.