LOTTERY MILLIONS HAVE MENTAL HEALTH IN MIND.

(From Government News Network (Was Hermes-Government Press Releases))

] BIG LOTTERY FUND PN 06-03-43 30 March 2006 LOTTERY MILLIONS HAVE MENTAL HEALTH IN MIND

Organisations focusing on mental health are among 20 charities receiving research awards totalling nearly GBP5 million today from the Big Lottery Fund. The awards bring to over GBP51 million the amount of Lottery good cause funding that has flowed into research to since 1998.

Sir Clive Booth, Chair of the Big Lottery Fund said: "Our research grants show the wide range of ways in which Lottery funding can help all groups of society. Research into mental health to help find better methods of treatment and support is crucial to those who are most vulnerable."

The Fund's Research Grants Programme has so far supported 264 social and medical research projects led by voluntary sector organisations and their beneficiaries. This scheme is now closed as the Fund is opening a new research programme in June this year which will distribute up to GBP25 million over the following three years. The aim of the new programme will be to influence local and national policy and practice by funding the production and sharing of evidence based knowledge.

Mind, the National Association for Mental Health, which is the leading …