2nd year PhD student, Ava Phillips (King’s College), enjoyed a breakthrough moment in her research when the novel data linkage Ava is using as part of her PhD was established. The linkage uses data from electronic healthcare records from South London and Maudsley (SLaM) NHS Foundation Trust and benefit records from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and will be used to explore patterns and trajectories of benefit receipt and work status among people with mental health disorders receiving secondary care within the boroughs of Croydon, Lambeth, Lewisham, and Southwark.