The Pears Maudsley mental health centre has marked a major milestone, as a topping out ceremony was held to mark the completion of the frame
The Pears Maudsley mental health centre will provide world-class research and better mental health services for children and young people in London.
The construction of the frame for the mental health centre was partly funded by an ambitious fundraising campaign to address the urgent demands for an increased need in mental health provision for children and young people.
It is being built by Integrated Health Projects, an alliance between VINCI Construction UK and Sir Robert McAlpine.
The mental health centre is due to open in Denmark Hill in 2023, and is the result of a “bench to bedside” partnership between South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, King’s College London and the Maudsley Charity.
The mental health centre will support the south London local community
Trust chair, Sir Norman Lamb commented: “It is fantastic to see this unique building taking shape, giving an insight into the life-changing facility it is going to become.
“The centre will support our local south London community, which has some of the highest levels of deprivation in the country, together with specialist national children’s mental health services that are available to everyone in England.”
Transforming the lives of children and young people
David Bradley, chief executive of South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust added: “After so many years of hard work, it is incredibly exciting to see the Pears Maudsley Centre coming to fruition.
“This project is rooted in partnership and collaboration and the Centre will enable us to develop ground-breaking treatments that will transform the lives of children and young people at a time when improving their mental health has never been more important.”
The Pears Maudsley Centre will be home to clinicians and academics in the field of children and young people’s mental health from the Trust and from King’s College London’s Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), as well as the outstanding Bethlem and Maudsley Hospital School and young in-patients.
It will provide treatment to young people with a range of conditions, from eating disorders and body dysmorphic disorder, to anxiety, ADHD, autism and trauma.
Changing the landscape for children’s mental health
President and principal of King’s College London, Professor Shitij Kapur, said: “There is no other Centre like this in the world. Bringing together King’s College London’s world class researchers in mental health with clinical expertise, will enable us to find solutions together and change the landscape for children’s mental health.
“This will benefit our communities locally and nationally and lead to sharing best practice across the world, influencing global policy and mental health outcomes.
“It is this spirit of collaboration, innovation and creativity that will drive the culture at the Pears Maudsley Centre.”
