In 2016, MQ launched our Mental Health Data Science Group, bringing together experts from the world of mental health.
Over the last nine years, this programme of work has improved the way data is sourced and used for research, mapped the data landscape and informed policy and practice.
The programme has evolved since then and led to MQ’s partnership with DATAMIND, a nation-wide mental health data research hub that is transforming health research.
Today, we are pleased to share that Joseph Hayes, Professor in the Division of Psychiatry at UCL, is taking over the role of Chair of the MQ/DATAMIND Date Science committee. Joseph is an honorary consultant psychiatrist in the North London NHS Foundation Trust and an honorary public health consultant at the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities. His research focuses on the use of large electronic health records and registers data to understand the aetiology, treatment and prognosis of severe mental illness. He was a founding member of the Royal College of Psychiatrists Sustainability Committee and was a member of the World Economic Forum Global Future Council for Mental Health.
“I’m passionate about the better uses of data to solve, understand and solve problems relating to mental health,” says Joseph.
“It’s such an exciting time to be involved in data science and I am greatly looking forward to chairing the MQ Data Science Committee. There are big shoes to fill, but I want to build on what has already been achieved, particularly by Louise Arseneault, the outgoing Chair and past and present members of the committee and support mental health data science to grow and thrive as a community.”
Joseph is following in the footsteps of Professor Louise Arseneault, Professor of Developmental Psychology at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience at King’s College, London, and PI of the new Atlas of Longitudinal Datasets. Louise is stepping down as chair of the twice yearly MQ Data Science meetings after three highly successful years.
‘They say all good things must come to an end and that’s exactly how it feels right now. After three years of chairing the MQ/DATAMIND Data Science meetings, it’s time for me to step down. It has been a real privilege and a great pleasure to work with two outstanding organisations committed to improving mental health research, and with so many dedicated, smart and inspiring people. Meeting world class experts and interacting with brilliant early career researchers have been the highlight of the role and I will miss it very much. I’m delighted to welcome Joseph as the new Chair, and I’m sure he will enjoy every bit as much as I did.’