In the UK, 1 in 3 people will experience symptoms of depression and/or anxiety during their lifetime. The GLAD Study, led by our colleagues at the BioResource Centre London Maudsley and researchers at King’s College London, is the world’s largest study of the genetic and environmental factors surrounding anxiety and depression.
The GLAD Study has collected over 49,000 participant questionnaire responses to date, of which over 34,000 participants have returned their saliva kits. The aim is to collect vital psychological, medical, and genetic data from 40,000 individuals who have experienced these conditions.
With the target close to being met, the GLAD Study team are kicking off a new wave of volunteer recruitment for the 'control group'. They aim to recruit 10,000 individuals without any history of mental health disorders. Mental health researchers require what is also known as 'healthy controls', in other words, participants without the condition they are researching, as a measure for comparison. In the context of the GLAD Study, this is so they can understand why some individuals are more susceptible to illnesses like anxiety and depression than others and the role which our genes and the environment play in the development of these conditions.
Why should you join GLAD?
Participation in GLAD isn't just about contributing to one study – it's about joining a larger movement towards improved mental health outcomes for everyone. By enrolling in GLAD, you'll become part of the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) BioResource, a panel comprising over 250,000 volunteers. Your participation paves the way for advancements in research for not only anxiety and depression, but various health conditions.
If you are age 16 or older and reside in the United Kingdom, you’re eligible to join. Whether you’ve personally experienced anxiety or depression or have never encountered mental health disorders, you can play a pivotal role in advancing mental health research and making a real difference in the lives of millions.
How to get involved?
Participating in GLAD is an easy process. Simply visit gladstudy.org.uk to get started. You'll need to complete four steps to sign up: reading the information sheet, providing consent, filling out our questionnaire (which takes 30-40 minutes), and submit a saliva sample. You will be sent a saliva sample up to 2 weeks after completing the questionnaire and you can return the sample using the provided prepaid envelope. Once we receive your sample, you'll officially be part of the GLAD community!
If you, or someone you know, are interested and have questions, then don’t hesitate to contact us via email at gladstudy@kcl.ac.uk. You can keep up to date with the GLAD Study on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.
