My research focuses on treatments for psychosis, bipolar disorder and suicidality, and inequities in service provision. I have worked extensively with people experiencing mental health difficulties and am passionate about improving person centred and evidenced based care. My current role involves conducting research at the Spectrum Centre for Mental Health Research, teaching at Lancaster Medical School, and working clinically in Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust.
I completed my BSc and MSc in Psychology at Bangor University, North Wales, before doing a PhD and DClinPsy at the University of Manchester. My postdoctoral position involved developing and evaluating a smartphone software application (ClinTouch) for the ambulatory monitoring of psychosis. I worked for three years at the Psychosis Research Unit in Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust where I delivered therapy across randomised controlled trials for early psychosis and mania (MAPS, COMPARE, BART, PRODIGY). More recently, I have been a lecturer on the DClinPsy programme at the University of Manchester and Clinical Lead for Wigan Early Detection and Intervention Team (EDIT).
Since joining Lancaster University, I have led two NIHR funded randomised controlled feasibility trials.
1. The Mental Imagery for Suicidality in Students Trial (MISST) evaluated a brief positive mental imagery intervention for reducing suicidal ideation in university students.
2. The Mouth Matters in Mental Health Trial evaluated a link work intervention to support people with severe mental health difficulties to access a dentist.
I was also site lead in LSCFT for the IPPACT and CAMEO research projects.
I am currently involved in a number of small and large-scale research projects. My team are conducting ambitious patient and public involvement consultations to understand how we can improve mental health research infastructure in the Northwest of England. I am a co-investigator on the IBPI trial, evlauating an online parenting intervention for people with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder.
