The Network was set up in 2007 to provide sustainable cutting edge expertise and capacity for mental health multicentre trials in Scotland. The Network is funded by the Chief Scientist Office of the Scottish Executive Health Department. SMHRN works in close collaboration with the English MHRN and MHRN Cymru

The SMHRN provides two linked services

1. The Scottish Mental Health Trials Service which offers guidance and consultancy on pre-proposal and adopted studies. This includes assistance with funding proposals, funding sources, systematic reviews, specialist mental health trial design and statistical expertise, advice on patient involvement in mental health trials, and assistance with the regulatory aspects of mental health trials.
   
   

2. A Recruitment and Facilitation service for multicentre mental health clinical trials which includes site recruitment, clinician and patient recruitment, data collection, recruitment monitoring and troubleshooting where necessary.
   
   

The Network’s co-ordinating centre is based in Edinburgh, but the Network covers the whole of Scotland, with the first satellite centre being set up in Glasgow.

The Network is closely allied to the English Mental Health Research Network and the Welsh Mental Health Research Network.