Complex Emotions Hub
Project overview
The Complex Emotions hub is one of five new research programmes forming the basis of the UKRI mental health research platform, established to accelerate progress towards novel and more effective treatments for severe mental illness (SMI).
The focus of this hub is developing a research programme to explore and transform the understanding and the care experiences of people that live with the emotional challenges commonly associated with a condition known as Borderline Personality Disorder, sometimes called Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder (EUPD) and Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPSTD).
‘Complex emotions’ are experiences and feelings that can be confusing and difficult to manage such as; difficulties in relationships and worries about being abandoned; difficulties regulating emotions, with strong emotions but also episodes of detachment, or dissociation; and managing impulses that might have negative consequences, including self-harm and suicidal feelings.
Some people find the diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder stigmatising and damaging to their health and wellbeing.
The Complex Emotions Hub is led by Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Trust and the two main geographical locations for the research will be Sheffield and Plymouth. The universities involved include: University of Sheffield, University of Plymouth and Queen Mary, University of London.
The hub is funded for five years from April 2024 and the work programmes will be developed with partners, including the McPin Foundation.
Project details
Tragically, around 10% of people with a diagnosis of Borderline Personality die by suicide making it a life-threatening condition.
At present, despite research and campaigns to change practice, people who experience these emotional difficulties still struggle to get the support they need to recover.
The Complex Emotions Hub will bring together a team of people with a wide range of expertise, including lived experience, to work to conduct further research into this condition.
McPin is part of the leadership of the Complex Emotions hub through peer researcher Lisa Couperthwaite’s role as a co-applicant and co-investigator on this grant.
The hub will be recruiting a LEAP (Lived Experience Advisory Panel) with eight members from rich and diverse backgrounds to help shape the activities delivered through the complex emotions programme of research.
This work will be underpinned by principles of coproduction, and we will be looking for ways to engage with the wider community over time so that practice, academic and lived experience expertise can be brought together to shape how the hub works and the research that is delivered.
Take a look at this UKRI blog, Accelerating research in severe mental illness.
You can also get in touch with [email protected] for more information.
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