The challenges and opportunities of mental health data sharing in the UK
In: Ford , T , Mansfield , K L , Markham , S , McManus , S , John , A , O'Reilly , D , Newlove-Delgado , T , Iveson , M , Fazel , M , Das Munshi , J , Dutta , R , Leavey , G , Downs , J , Foley , T , Russell , A , Maguire , A , Moon , G , Kirkham , E J , Finning , K , Russell , G , Moore , A , Jones , P & Shenow , S 2021 , ' The challenges and opportunities of mental health data sharing in the UK ' , The Lancet Digital Health , vol. 3 , no. 6 , pp. e333-e336 . https://doi.org/10.1016/S2589-7500(21)00078-9
The UK's National Health Service (NHS) generates uniquely rich data that should be rapidly deployed for policy and service improvement, yet researchers report difficulties in accessing these data. Paradoxically, these restrictions are occurring at the same time as the open science movement, which encourages data sharing to improve the rigour, transparency, and replicability of research. We describe the urgency of improvements to data access and propose solutions from a mental health research perspective, although the issues discussed extend to all areas in which analysis and linkage of health data support policy and practice. Actions are needed at every level, from data users and data custodians to government (panel).
