"Starting Grant" for research on mental health

Monika Müller, Head Physician of the Outpatient Services at Luzerner Psychiatrie AG (lups), has received an "SNSF Starting Grant" from the Swiss National Science Foundation. The grant will enable her to realise a large-scale project at the University of Lucerne.

PD Dr. med. Dr. phil. nat. Monika Müller

As of March 2025, Dr Monika Müller will lead the research project, "The Role of Economic Empowerment to Treat Severe Depression in Adults in India: A Randomised Controlled Trial Evaluating a Cash Plus Program." The project will run for five years, with career funding totalling around 1.8 million Swiss francs. The research team will include several doctoral students in Switzerland and India. Müller will conduct her research activities at the University of Lucerne on a 50 percent basis as part of her assistant professorship. Alongside this, she will continue her clinical work as a senior physician at Luzerner Psychiatrie AG on a part-time basis. The assistant professorship will be run as a bridge professorship together with Luzerner Psychiatrie AG.

Novel, interdisciplinary research approach

Müller's research centres on innovative outpatient care models, particularly for people with severe mental illness. Her work spans both Switzerland and countries in the Global South, where gaps in specialised psychiatric treatment are especially pronounced. Economic factors are a key focus of her research, aiming to optimise resource allocation, minimise inappropriate healthcare services, and identify incentives that may drive unsuitable care practices.

Müller's research project at the University of Lucerne is examining a new model of primary care in rural India. "Our study focuses on economically disadvantaged individuals with severe depression, whose symptoms significantly limit their ability to participate in working life," she explains. This starting point has a profound impact on the economic and social well-being of those affected and their families, Müller adds. Poverty, in turn, is a key risk factor for the development of depression.

The research team combines a brief psychological intervention with the temporary provision of an unconditional basic income. By simultaneously addressing the depression and improving the economic situation, the team hopes to enable a holistic recovery for those affected and enhance their social participation. "Better integration of the health and social welfare sectors may facilitate access to evidence-based treatment for those affected," says Müller, highlighting the importance of this approach given the low treatment rate of only ten percent in India.

Stefan Boes, Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, is thrilled that the upcoming project will be realised at the University of Lucerne: "Monika Müller's project aligns perfectly with the direction and research focus of our faculty, where interdisciplinary healthcare research is a key priority."