The National Centre for Mental Health (NCMH) hosted an engaging and informative webinar on Wednesday 14 May discussing mental health and cognition. The webinar focused on the often-overlooked connection between mental health challenges and cognitive functioning as well as how online cognitive assessments can be used to improve clinical care.
The event brought together researchers and individuals with lived experience to discuss how mental health conditions can affect key cognitive processes such as memory, concentration, and decision-making.
Dr Amy Lynham, lead of the Cardiff Online Cognitive Assessment (CONCA) project, presented the latest research in the field. She highlighted growing evidence that a range of diagnoses have the potential to impair cognitive function across various cognitive domains including planning, inhibition and working memory. However, research also shows that on average, people with schizophrenia have the most severe cognitive impairments.
Amy said: “Cognitive difficulties are a frequently overlooked part of mental health challenges, even though research shows they affect people with many different conditions. Through our work with NCMH and HealthWise Wales, we’ve gained a clearer understanding of how these difficulties can impact everyday life – from self-care and work to relationships. By working closely with people who have lived experience, we’ve developed and are currently testing a new tool to assess cognitive functioning, which we aim to bring into clinical practice in the future.”
Moreover, research from both NCMH and Healthwise Wales showed that cognitive function impacts daily life across a variety of areas including mobility, self-care, household responsibilities, cognitive problems, social life and participation in society.
This was supported by a moving personal account from Tony Cope, a member of the Partnership in Research (PAR) group and CONCA participant. Tony shared his own experiences of living with mental health difficulties, long COVID and the subsequent effects on his cognitive abilities. His story shed light on the real-life challenges faced by many and highlighted the need for holistic approaches to mental health care.
Tony said:
I did well at school and got my degree, followed by a career in biomedical sciences, and having my own business. When I was having a ‘high’, I had supercharged cognition – I was going to run the planet! When I was depressed, my cognition had disappeared.”
Tony then went on to talk about his experience as a CONCA participant and patient and public involvement (PPI) collaborator, undergoing various cognitive test to assess whether the online assessment tool can give consistent measures of cognitive abilities over time.
The session concluded with a Q&A, encouraging open discussion around the importance of integrating cognitive assessment into mental health services.
NCMH continues to champion research that bridges clinical insight and personal experience, helping to shape a more comprehensive understanding of mental health and wellbeing.