Researchers at Birmingham have released a set of resources designed to support the mental health and wellbeing of those working on emotionally demanding topics.
These guidelines are based on findings from a major study published earlier this year, which explored how researchers can be better supported when investigating emotionally intense areas such as trauma, illness, inequality, or end-of-life care.
Developed in collaboration with researchers across academia, healthcare, and the charity sector, the guidelines are tailored for a wide range of roles and contexts. They also provide clear advice for key stakeholders including funders, line managers, supervisors, conference organisers, and individual researchers.
The guidelines include practical strategies such as regular check-ins within research teams, clear communication around expectations, structured debriefs, boundary setting for research engagement, and time management and self-care approaches to support individual wellbeing throughout the research process.
This resource is about putting the research into action. We’ve taken the key themes identified by our participants, especially around proactive team support and boundary setting, and created guidelines that researchers and key stakeholders in the broader research culture can start using right away.
The research behind the guidelines was originally featured in a University of Birmingham article published in February. That study called for a shift toward psychologically informed research environments where emotional wellbeing is embedded as part of good research practice.
The University encourages research leaders, funders, and institutions to adopt these guidelines as part of their everyday support for those undertaking emotionally challenging work.
Following valuable input from researchers across disciplines, the team has now updated the guidelines to better reflect the realities of emotionally demanding research. These revisions were informed by responses to a recent survey, which invited researchers to share their experiences and suggestions. The feedback has played a crucial role in shaping more practical and supportive resources tailored to the diverse needs of the research community.
Assistant Professor in Sport and Exercise Psychology
Dr Quinton studies how sport, dance, and community environments support mental health and motivation through strengths-based psychology.
Professor of Sport and Exercise Psychology
Dr Jennifer Cumming is an expert in the imagery and observational learning use of athletes, exercisers, and dancers.
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Dr Bird's research broadly encompasses athlete mental health, with her current research focused on mental health support for Paralympic athletes.
