Cornwall: Nearly £5m awarded to tackle health inequalities

The aim of the project is to enable "more research on issues that affect people in Cornwall"

Nearly £5m has been awarded for a research project to improve mental health and wellbeing in Cornwall.

Cornwall Council will receive £4.96m from the National Institute of Health and Care Research (NIHR) for a Health Determinant Research Collaboration.

The aim of the project is to enable "more research on issues that affect people in Cornwall".

The new Health Determinant Research Collaboration will add to 13 that were established last year across the UK.

The money will be received over a five-year period.

The aim of the project is to bring together the expertise of all of the organisations involved and create closer collaboration in delivering research in communities in Cornwall.

The funding comes into place in January 2024 and will initially be used to create new jobs and provide career development opportunities.

The bid was in partnership with the Universities of Exeter, Falmouth and Plymouth and Cornwall Voluntary Sector Forum.

'Growing awareness'

Andy Virr, Cornwall Council cabinet member for adult social care and health, said it was "great news".

He added: "This will help us to accelerate research and develop innovative solutions to tackle these issues so that residents can live a healthier life."

Professor Sheena Asthana, a co-applicant of Cornwall HDRC and the academic lead of the Plymouth HDRC, said the move was "very welcome".

She added: "There is growing awareness that peripheral coastal and rural areas are facing unique health challenges but little evidence to date of the specific solutions that such areas require to address the wider determinants of health."

The director of public health's annual report this year focused on health inequalities and the public can find out more about how these affect the population of Cornwall on the council's website.