News Survey open: Help identify priorities for secondary mental health care in Kent, Surrey and Sussex 21 October 2026 Share Share on Linkedin Share on X Share via email News Mental health & neurodiversity Researchers and academics A new survey has launched across Kent, Surrey and Sussex to determine future research focuses for secondary mental health care. People with personal experience of severe, complex, or long-lasting mental health difficulties, families, carers and professionals are being asked to share the questions that matter most to them. Influencing research in secondary mental health care The survey focuses on secondary mental health care: specialist support for people with more complex or long-term mental health needs that cannot usually be met by a general practitioner or primary care service alone. This can include community mental health teams, crisis services, mental health outpatient clinics and hospital care. The aim is to make sure future research addresses the questions that matter most to people who use and work with these services. Dr Claire Rosten, Translational Research and Implementation Lead at Health Innovation Kent, Surrey, Sussex, and co-lead of the ARC KSS Mental Health Innovation and Implementation theme – “We want future research to focus on the questions that matter most to people who use and work with secondary mental health services. By sharing your views, you can help shape research that could improve care and support for people across our region.” Who can take part? People aged 16 to 35 who have experienced severe, complex and long-term issues affecting mental health. You can take part whether you received support, were referred to a service or could not access support. Family members, friends, carers or others who support someone who has experienced severe, complex, or long-term issues affecting mental health. People who work in secondary mental health services, refer people to these services or work alongside them. This includes staff working in NHS services, the voluntary and community sector, local authority services, education, the police and housing. If this includes you, please complete the survey and share what you think research should explore. Organisations can also help by sharing it with people who may want to take part. The team especially wants to hear from people whose experiences and perspectives are less often heard, including people from minoritised ethnic communities, LGBTQ+ communities, people with disabilities, people experiencing financial hardship, and people from other under-represented groups. Take part and help spread the word Please share the survey with relevant services, charities, community groups, support networks and professional organisations. The Mental Health team would be happy to present the partnership and survey at any relevant meetings or events, so please let us know about any opportunities. Take part in the survey Email the Applied Research Collaboration Kent, Surrey and Sussex Mental Health theme for more information or paper copies, to suggest a group that could share it, or to invite the team to an event. Every response and every share will help make sure future research focuses on what matters to people across Kent, Surrey and Sussex. Who is running the survey? The survey was launched in October 2026 by the Mental Health Innovation and Implementation theme at the National Institute for Health and Care Research Applied Research Collaboration (NIHR) Kent, Surrey and Sussex (ARC KSS). They are working with the James Lind Alliance Priority Setting Partnership, which brings together people with lived experience, carers and professionals to agree the questions research should answer. Health Innovation Kent, Surrey, Sussex is supporting the survey to help define future research priorities for the region. Subsequent work will seek to compare these priorities with those identified elsewhere in England through collaboration with other ARCs, supporting consideration of both regional and national research needs. To learn more about the Applied Research Collaboration Kent, Surrey and Sussex secondary mental health care Priority Setting Partnership, watch the Research Week video.