The PhD at Strathclyde will examine the role that community based organisations can and do have in addressing mental health inequalities in Scotland. Covid has brought the issue of mental health inequalities to the fore and this research will examine the experiences of community development organisations and activists across Scotland to understand what they are currently doing in this area, and how they view their roles in enabling change. The core focus will be shaped with the applicant.

The PhD will be based at Strathclyde Centre for Health Policy which works across all Faculties of the University. In addition to academic supervision you will be supported and guided by three strategic partners: Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership (co-funder), The UK Mental Health Foundation and The Poverty Alliance. It will also collaborate with the University of Strathclyde’s International Strategic Partnership with New York University Silver School of Social Work, which has undertaken extensive research on mental health and poverty.

For this opportunity we are looking for an individual who not only has the right research skills and interests, but also has direct experience of poverty. There is no single ‘lived experience’ of poverty: the experience may relate to a period of homelessness, or to an experience of unemployment or low pay. It may relate to experiences of discrimination on the grounds of race, gender or disability, or due to experience of migration or refugee status. You may have experienced poverty as a result of caring responsibilities or because you are a lone parent. We believe that some direct experience of poverty will be beneficial in delivering the key support requirements of this post.  

Further information

This studentship links with Strathclyde’s ongoing International Strategic Partnership (ISP) with New York University (NYU). The Centre for Health Policy at Strathclyde (CHP) have developed a strong partnership with the NYU Silver School of Social Work over the last nine years. Our ongoing partnership is focused around mental health and social exclusion, particularly in relation to the Citizenship, Recovery and Inclusive Society Partnership (CRISP), which arose from collaborative work between colleagues in NYU Silver School and Strathclyde CHP.

The student will be based in the Centre for Health Policy within the School of Social Work & Social Policy at the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK. The Centre for Health Policy works with national and international partners to address major public health challenges. It leads Strathclyde University’s links with New York University and City University of New York in the area of health.

The School is well recognized in Scotland and internationally for its research in social work and social policy, especially in the areas of Children & Young People, Citizenship and communities, Health and Wellbeing, Criminal & Social Justice. More information about the School of Social Work & Social Policy is available here.

The student will also be part of a vibrant postgraduate community of over 300 students across six Schools, many international, who have a dedicated work space in our Graduate School. The Graduate School provides support with research training, organizes regular events for students and runs a mentoring scheme for new students. More information on the Graduate School is available here.