This exciting international PhD will focus on the emergence of ‘thriving city’ initiatives that have developed in recent years in Europe and North America to promote the mental health and wellbeing of their residents. It will focus upon ‘Thriving City’ models that may include: Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dublin, West Midlands, London, Bristol, Stockholm, Amsterdam, New York, Philadelphia and Vancouver. The candidate will examine the experiences of stakeholders (including politicians, public sector leaders, businesses and community organisations) in the establishment, implementation, sustainability and impact of these initiatives. It will identify key elements of the ‘thriving city’ model across these sites and how lessons learned from the experience of existing thriving city initiatives can inform future developments. This core focus will be decided with the successful applicant.

The PhD is based at Strathclyde University Centre for Health Policy. In addition to academic supervision you will be supported and guided by three strategic partners: Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership; The UK Mental Health Foundation and The International Initiative for Mental Health Leadership. It will also be embedded within the University of Strathclyde’s International Strategic Partnerships with City University of New York, who has had a key role in evaluating the Thrive New York initiative.

Further information

This studentship links with Strathclyde’s ongoing International Strategic Partnership (ISP) with City University of New York (CUNY). The Centre for Health Policy at Strathclyde (CHP) have developed a strong partnership with the Centre for Innovation in Mental Health (CIMH) at CUNY. Our partnership is focused around public mental health, particularly in relation to the Thrive NYC Initiative. CIMH is core-funded by the Mayor’s Office to evaluate the Thrive NYC Initiative, the world’s leading public mental health programme, and develop a collaborative academic-community partnership to support evaluation efforts for Thrive.

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. Find more information about the School of Social Work & Social Policy 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.