Food and Behaviour Research
Food & Mental Health: New Initiatives for the NHS
Evidence shows better nutrition can improve mental health outcomes
- and that more holistic approaches can improve engagement and benefit general health and well-being.
In this is recorded discussion and Q&A we explore the evidence linking nutrition and diet with mental as well as physical health and wellbeing.
Hear about new initiatives - for both research and practice - aimed at reducing the current challenges facing the NHS (and allied services) in meeting patients’ needs, and improving outcomes.
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT
- Current evidence for (and against) NHS provision of specific dietary and nutritional interventions for patients with Serious Mental Illness (e.g. severe depression, other mood disorders, and psychosis), and other mental health conditions
- Why physical and mental health issues are often interconnected – and how dietary management of co-occurring physical conditions may also help to reduce mental health symptoms.
- What is known about the links between food security and mental health difficulties - and what impacts improved access to food could have beyond physical health improvements
- What differences in eating behaviours and dietary intake are common for people with mental health difficulties and serious mental health conditions - and how might they show up in practice
- What research has shown about patients’ and professionals’ views, preferences and knowledge about the links between food and mental health
OTHER TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION include
- What are the main obstacles in practice to implementing dietary and nutritional interventions for mental health that are ‘evidence-based’ – and how can they best be overcome?
- What should be the priorities for further research in relation to food / diet / nutrition and mental health?
OUR SPEAKERS
Dr Kevin Williamson - Enabling and empowering people with Severe Mental Illness through diet and nutrition - case study and new initiatives
Jo Smith, RD - Food insecurity and mental ill-health - practical approaches to breaking negative cycles and encouraging healthier eating
Dr Alex Richardson - Nutritional psychology and psychiatry - how changing diets can change minds
And Hazel De Maeijer, ANutr of FAB Research will chair and contribute to the general discussion and Q&A.
PRICING
The recording of this event is available FREE to NHS staff, researchers, students & anyone personally affected by severe mental illness.
To everyone else it is available at a reduced price of £10.
* As part of the collaboration between FAB Research and the NHS we are offering free access to this webinar to any NHS employee or students.
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MORE ABOUT OUR SPEAKERS
Dr Kevin Williamson is a registered Nutritionist in the NHS, with almost 20 years of specialist experience in both clinical practice and research into the links between food and mental health. Kevin has just started a formal placement with FAB Research as part of his NIHR-funded DSE award in the field Nutritional Psychiatry.
Earlier in his career, Kevin’s pioneering work with Professor Malcolm Peet first brought him into contact with FAB Research. This included his contributions to the UK Parliamentary Food and Health Forum (FHF) Inquiry into the links between Diet and Behaviour (which recommended implementation by all NHS Trusts of the approach its own Trust was then taking).
Kevin remains committed to raising awareness of the importance of nutrition in mental health – and by working with collaborators across a wide range of areas and disciplines, he aims to use his award to bring real life benefits to patients experiencing poor mental health.
Jo Smith, RD has been a registered Dietitian with the NHS for over 26 years, and a Clinical Academic Dietitian since 2022. She has a specialist interest in food insecurity, obesity, and health inequalities; and is particularly interested in the eating behaviour of people with mental health conditions, and the two-way links between diet and wellbeing.
Jo is also the research officer for the Mental Health Specialist Group of the British Dietetic Association, the NIHR Allied Health Professionals (AHP) Research Champion for the North East and North Cumbria and the Training Lead for the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) Integrating Mental Health, Physical Health and Social Care Themes in that region.
Her passion is promoting dietetic research in mental health and learning disabilities in order to improve clinical practice and provide more effective support for individuals with these conditions.
Dr Alex Richardson is a world-renowned researcher, educator, speaker, published author and Founder Director of the UK-based charity, Food and Behaviour (FAB) Research.
Alex is best known for her pioneering clinical trials of nutritional interventions for behaviour, learning and mood in ADHD, dyslexia and related neurodevelopmental conditions. But her early work revealed common links between these and other mental conditions, and also included some of the earliest published reports of successful nutritional approaches to both depression and schizophrenia in young adults, which have subsequently been confirmed and extended by others.
Like both Jo and Kevin, Alex remains dedicated to raising awareness of the fundamental links between nutrition and mental health, wellbeing and performance – and helping more people to achieve a better quality (and quantity) of life through both research and its translation into everyday practice.
Speakers
Dr Kevin Williamson
Consultant Nutritionist - Rotherham Doncaster and South Humber (RDasH) NHS Foundation Trust
Jo Smith, RD
Consultant Dietitian Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust, Clinical Academic Teesside University
Dr Alex Richardson
DPhil (Oxon), PGCE, FRSA
World-renowned researcher, educator, speaker and published author; and Founder Director of the UK-based charity, Food and Behaviour (FAB) Research.
Hazel De Maeijer, ANutr
Nutritionist, MSc, BSc, GMBPsS
FAB Communications Officer and Volunteer Co-Ordinator
Bringing experience as a Learning Support Practitioner for students with special educational needs, and a personal and professional interest in ADHD, Autism and related neurodevelopmental conditions, as well as emotional regulation and executive function
Food and Behaviour Research is a registered charity (No SC034604) and a company limited by guarantee (Co No SC 253448)
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Important Notice:
Medical opinion and guidance should always be sought for any symptoms that might possibly reflect a known or suspected disease, disorder or medical condition. Information provided on this website (or by FAB Research via any other means) does not in any way constitute advice on the treatment of any medical condition formally diagnosed or otherwise.