The researcher Toolkit: A preventative, peer-support approach to postgraduate research student mental health
dc.contributor.author | Homer, Sophie | |
dc.contributor.author | Solbrig, L | |
dc.contributor.author | Djama, D | |
dc.contributor.author | Bentley, Anne | |
dc.contributor.author | Kearns, S | |
dc.contributor.author | May, Jon | |
dc.date.accessioned | 2020-10-27T12:13:03Z | |
dc.date.issued | 2021-02-03 | |
dc.identifier.issn | 2398-4686 | |
dc.identifier.issn | 2398-4694 | |
dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/10026.1/16601 | |
dc.description | No embargo required. | |
dc.description.abstract |
<jats:sec> <jats:title content-type="abstract-subheading">Purpose</jats:title> <jats:p>Rates of mental ill-health among postgraduate research students (PGRs) are alarmingly high. PGRs face unique challenges and stigma around accessing support. The purpose of this paper is to introduce The Researcher Toolkit: a novel, open-source, preventative approach to PGR mental health. The Toolkit empowers PGRs and promotes positive research culture. This paper describes and evaluates the Toolkit to encourage adoption across the sector.</jats:p> </jats:sec> <jats:sec> <jats:title content-type="abstract-subheading">Design/methodology/approach</jats:title> <jats:p>Four workshops were designed by integrating researcher development, critical pedagogy and psychological knowledge of well-being. A diverse group of PGRs co-designed workshops and delivered them to their peers. Workshops engaged 26% of the PGR population (total 116 attendees). PGR Workshop Leaders and attendees submitted anonymous, online feedback after workshops (74 total responses). A mixed-method approach combined quantitative analysis of ratings and qualitative analysis of open-ended comments.</jats:p> </jats:sec> <jats:sec> <jats:title content-type="abstract-subheading">Findings</jats:title> <jats:p>Feedback was overwhelmingly positive. Workshops were universally appealing, enjoyable and beneficial and the peer-support approach was highly valued, strongly supporting adoption of the programme in other universities. Findings are discussed alongside wider systemic factors and recommendations for policy.</jats:p> </jats:sec> <jats:sec> <jats:title content-type="abstract-subheading">Practical implications</jats:title> <jats:p>The Toolkit translates readily to other UK institutions and can be adapted for use elsewhere. Recommendations for practice are provided.</jats:p> </jats:sec> <jats:sec> <jats:title content-type="abstract-subheading">Originality/value</jats:title> <jats:p>The Researcher Toolkit is a novel PGR well-being initiative. Its originality is threefold: its approach is prevention rather than intervention; its content is new and bespoke, created through interdisciplinary collaboration between psychologists, researcher development professionals and PGR stakeholders; and support is peer-led and decentralised from student support services. Its evaluation adds to the limited literature on PGR well-being and peer-support.</jats:p> </jats:sec> | |
dc.format.extent | 7-25 | |
dc.language | en | |
dc.language.iso | en | |
dc.publisher | Emerald | |
dc.title | The researcher Toolkit: A preventative, peer-support approach to postgraduate research student mental health | |
dc.type | journal-article | |
dc.type | Journal Article | |
plymouth.issue | 1 | |
plymouth.volume | 12 | |
plymouth.publication-status | Published | |
plymouth.journal | Studies in Graduate and Postdoctoral Education | |
dc.identifier.doi | 10.1108/SGPE-06-2020-0039 | |
plymouth.organisational-group | /Plymouth | |
plymouth.organisational-group | /Plymouth/Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business | |
plymouth.organisational-group | /Plymouth/Faculty of Health | |
plymouth.organisational-group | /Plymouth/Faculty of Health/School of Psychology | |
plymouth.organisational-group | /Plymouth/REF 2021 Researchers by UoA | |
plymouth.organisational-group | /Plymouth/REF 2021 Researchers by UoA/UoA04 Psychology, Psychiatry and Neuroscience | |
plymouth.organisational-group | /Plymouth/REF 2021 Researchers by UoA/UoA04 Psychology, Psychiatry and Neuroscience/UoA04 Psychology, Psychiatry and Neuroscience MANUAL | |
plymouth.organisational-group | /Plymouth/REF 2021 Researchers by UoA/UoA04 Psychology, Psychiatry and Neuroscience/UoA04 REF peer reviewers | |
plymouth.organisational-group | /Plymouth/Research Groups | |
plymouth.organisational-group | /Plymouth/Research Groups/Centre for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour (CBCB) | |
plymouth.organisational-group | /Plymouth/Research Groups/Centre for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour (CBCB)/Behaviour | |
plymouth.organisational-group | /Plymouth/Research Groups/Institute of Health and Community | |
plymouth.organisational-group | /Plymouth/Users by role | |
plymouth.organisational-group | /Plymouth/Users by role/Academics | |
dcterms.dateAccepted | 2020-11-13 | |
dc.rights.embargodate | 2021-3-25 | |
dc.identifier.eissn | 2398-4694 | |
dc.rights.embargoperiod | Not known | |
rioxxterms.versionofrecord | 10.1108/SGPE-06-2020-0039 | |
rioxxterms.licenseref.uri | http://www.rioxx.net/licenses/all-rights-reserved | |
rioxxterms.licenseref.startdate | 2021-02-03 | |
rioxxterms.type | Journal Article/Review | |
plymouth.funder | Peer support for Postgraduate Research Student Wellbeing::Office for Students |