Pears Maudsley Centre, London, celebrates 'Topping Out' milestone

Trust Chair, Sir Norman Lamb said:

“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.”

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.

President & 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.”

The Maudsley Charity, which backs better mental health, has contributed £10m to the project and with the partners, has also generated significant support from charitable foundations including Pears Foundation, the Rayne Foundation and individual donors.

Chief Executive Officer of the Maudsley Charity, Rebecca Gray, said:

“Today’s ceremony is another significant milestone for The Pears Maudsley Centre and the partnership behind this innovative development.

“But this is more than just a building. With support from philanthropists and the public we can improve mental health outcomes now and for the future. Our commitment is that we can ‘Change The Story’ on children’s mental health and the centre is the physical embodiment of that vision.”

Young patients and their families, as well as researchers and clinicians, have been involved in designing the Pears Maudsley Centre, which features connections with nature as a key aspect of the design through landscaped outdoor terraces and extensive planting on each of the building’s eight floors.