The government has announced £50 million of funding for research into mental health that could deliver more effective treatments.

The announcement comes on Mental Health Day.

Poor mental health affects 1 in 4 people in England and it is the UK’s single biggest driver of disability.

The funding will be used to set up a cohort of 20,000 volunteers, whose health data can be securely used for mental health research. This will provide a better, data-driven, understanding of how our biology links to mental health.

An Industry Alliance Team will be set up for innovators to get streamlined support to access to the UK’s high quality mental health research facilities and health data.

A new Lived Experience Industry Partnership will be launched to ensure that people who have actually experienced mental health problems are at the heart of how research is prioritised and undertaken by industry.

Science minister Lord Vallance said: "Mental health problems blight the lives of millions of people across the country. This isn’t something we should just accept. Scientific research has led to breakthroughs that are changing the game for physical problems, like cancer, and heart disease. We should be every bit as ambitious for what science can do in tackling mental health challenges as well.

"That is why this funding matters and what our Plan for Change delivers. By making the right resources readily accessible we can look to a future where mental health is tackled faster, more precisely, and more effectively."