Collecting to evidence to influence change
Research
My current research focuses on mental health, including perinatal mental health, sleep, and children and young people. More information about these projects can be found via the sections below. You can also check out my current publications and my official Bournemouth University Staff Profile page.
Mental health
Most of my academic and professional work focuses on mental health, particularly with an emphasis on influencing change and improving services (see Mental health pages).
Perinatal mental health
I have been undertaking academic and professional work with maternal mental health for around 20 years. You can discover more about all of that work on the perinatal mental health research page.
Fathers’ mental health
More recently, I have started to focus on fathers - as their mental health can be affected in the perinatal period. I have undertaken several studies exploring this under-researched area. You can read about that on the Fathers mental health research page.
Young people's mental health
I am working on a series of projects focusing on children and young people. Together with education professionals, mental health service providers and local charities, we are looking at how we can evaluate, and improve upon, existing work in Dorset. This will especially focus on work being undertaken at Dorset Mind, for whom I am Patron.
Mental Health and Nature
There is growing evidence about how nature-based projects, including horticulture and ecotherapy, can be used to improve and sustain mental health. I will be undertaking professional work, supported by research, alongside Dorset Mind and Seed2Plate Dorset. You can see more on the dedicated page for mental health and nature.
Sleep
I have been conducting sleep research with adults since 1997. Most of that work has focused on the relationship between poor sleep and depression. I have published several papers on that topic. You can find more details about this work on the Sleep research page.