Dr Russell Razzaque, Consultant Psychiatrist, Clinical Director for Relational Care and Director of Research and Development at North East London NHS Foundation Trust (NELFT), has been appointed as the UK’s first Professor of Relational Psychiatry.

The appointment comes at a significant moment for mental health services, with Professor Razzaque also co-leading one of the largest NHS studies ever carried out into mental health crisis care, with findings expected to be published shortly.

Appointed through the Centre for Anthropological Mental Health Research and Action (CAMHRA) at SOAS University of London, the new professorship reflects growing evidence that relationships, family involvement and social support play a pivotal role in long-term recovery.

Professor Razzaque is co-lead of the ODDESSI trial, a major NHS-funded study evaluating Open Dialogue - an alternative approach to mental health care designed to bring together clinicians, patients, families and wider support networks to make decisions collectively and reduce reliance on traditional crisis services.

Led by NELFT in partnership with University College London (UCL) and four other NHS trusts, ODDESSI followed 500 patients over two years and is one of the largest studies of mental health crisis care undertaken in the NHS.

Its findings are expected to provide important new evidence at a time of rising demand for mental health services and growing focus on improving outcomes while reducing unnecessary hospital admissions.

Speaking about the appointment, Russell said: "For many years, there has been growing recognition that relationships are fundamental to effective mental health care, and that by working more relationally we can improve outcomes for patients while creating more compassionate and effective services.

“This appointment reflects how far we have come in understanding the vital role that relationships play in recovery and wellbeing. It is a great honour to be appointed to this role and an exciting opportunity to help shape the future of mental health research, education and service development."

Professor Razzaque has spent much of his career developing relational approaches to psychiatry, challenging traditional models of care that focus primarily on the individual rather than the wider relationships and social systems around them.

Interim NELFT chief executive, Jan Ditheridge, said: "Russell’s appointment as the UK’s first Professor of Relational Psychiatry is a testament to his leadership and commitment to improving mental health care through approaches that place human relationships at the centre of recovery.

“This recognition reflects NELFT’s growing reputation as a national leader in relational care and we are seeing first-hand how this approach is making a real difference to people’s lives."

Read more about the ODDESSI trial here: Dr Russell Razzaque: What Scandinavia can teach us about the future of mental health care