The Wellcome Trust is a global charitable foundation that supports scientific research to improve health for all. Rooted in the belief that science transforms lives, Wellcome invests in bold ideas and collaborates with researchers, institutions, and communities worldwide. The foundation funds research across multiple disciplines, including mental health, infectious diseases, climate change, and drug-resistant infections, ensuring its work addresses urgent global challenges. Beyond funding, Wellcome fosters environments that empower collaboration, inclusivity, and sustainability in science. It champions diversity, openness, and partnerships that connect researchers, practitioners, and communities to drive innovation and real-world impact. In mental health, Wellcome focuses on creating effective, scalable interventions to address conditions that primarily affect young people, recognizing that most mental health problems begin in adolescence or early adulthood. By funding transformative research and supporting global collaboration, Wellcome ensures that evidence-based interventions reach those most in need, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Through initiatives like this Mental Health Award, Wellcome emphasizes the importance of real-world testing, lived experience involvement, and scalable solutions. Its ultimate aim is to build a healthier, more equitable future where science serves humanity by tackling pressing mental health challenges and enabling people everywhere to thrive.

The Mental Health Award: Transforming Early Intervention for Anxiety, Depression and Psychosis in Young People is a two-phase global funding initiative designed to support scalable, cost-effective mental health interventions. The grant seeks to fund projects that rigorously test real-world effectiveness and implementation strategies of psychological or social interventions for young people facing anxiety, depression, and psychosis. The Foundation Phase opens in July 2025 and provides £200,000 over 12 months for up to 20 teams. This phase allows research groups to build partnerships, refine project design, and prepare robust proposals for large-scale studies. Teams will also join a community of practice supported by Wellcome to strengthen collaborations and approaches. The Impact Phase, opening in February 2027, will invite successful Foundation Phase teams to apply for larger awards ranging from £5 million to £8 million for up to five years. This phase focuses on conducting full effectiveness studies, scaling interventions, and including comprehensive economic evaluations. A strong emphasis is placed on lived experience involvement, youth perspectives, sustainability, and cost-effectiveness. By fostering scalable mental health solutions, this award aims to transform early intervention practices globally, with priority given to research conducted in the UK or low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).