MTU is committed to regional development, including improving health outcomes for those in the community or residential care with severe or enduring mental illness (EMI). Local and global experts are collaborating on new interventions that can be part of the standard treatment protocols. New training on human rights will ensure staff and service users can access a broader range of treatment options to complement existing pharmaceutical, psychiatric and psychological choices. People living with enduring mental illness often experience physical and social health consequences. MTUs Aclú initiative is developing and evaluating new treatment options to tackle this. Aclú meets UN calls for action on SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being, Target 3.4:  Ensure a reduction of mortality from non-communicable diseases and promote mental health.

Mairéad Carolan, Senior Clinical Psychologist, HSE, says this is about ensuring people can create a good life, make a home, engage in meaningful work or learning and build good relationships with family, friends and people in their community.

At the launch, MTU President Professor Maggie Cusack thanked the organisations that have come together to deliver change. Aclú is a new multidisciplinary initiative involving partners from MTU, the HSE, the Mental Health Commission, Dartmouth University in the US, University of Manchester, Southeast Technological University, Bielefeld University Germany, Kerry Recreation Sports Partnership and Enable Ireland.

Dr Joe Firth of the University of Manchester, who coordinated the Lancet mental health commission work, said physical activity improves fitness and cognition while reducing symptoms. Dr Kelly Aschbrenner, Associate Professor of Psychiatry Dartmouth, US, said that studies have shown that programs that support physical activity and healthier diets can improve the health of people with EMI through weight loss and fitness, even among those taking antipsychotic medications. Weight gain was prevented in over 50% of participants in her Dartmouth study. Dr Evan Matthews of the South East Technological University spoke of the importance of co-design work to shape interventions for the local context.

Aclú lead researchers Dr Tara Coppinger and Catherine Carty, UNESCO Chair Manager, said the next two years would see programmes designed, delivered and evaluated in the southwest. Aclú will provide solutions aligned with global priorities to improve health outcomes and empower recovery in enduring mental illness in the southwest and beyond.

Gallery of Aclú Launch