Dr Hannah Heath BSc, MSc, PhD, FHEA, CPsychol

Dr Hannah Heath

School of Psychology
Assistant Professor in Psychology
Senior Tutor

Dr Hannah Heath is a chartered member of the British Psychological Society, and a fellow of the Higher Education Academy. Her main teaching interests are in critical social theory, social psychology, and qualitative methods. She has been involved in a range of qualitative studies focusing on social and health psychology topics. Through interviews, focus groups, and prompt methods, Hannah has explored how young people come to understand their role in the care provision of a friend who self-harms.

Qualifications

BSc (Hons) Criminology and Psychology (Keele University)
MSc Psychology of Health and Wellbeing (Keele University)
PhD Psychology (University of Bath)
PGCLT (HE) (University of Chester)

Biography

Hannah completed her BSc (Hons) and MSc at Keele University, where she became interested in perceptions of self-harm in young adult populations. Hannah went on to complete a PhD using multiple qualitative methodologies to explore the impact of self-harm on friends and friendship at the University of Bath. Before coming to Birmingham, Hannah was a lecturer in Psychology at the University of Chester and taught social psychology, qualitative methods, individual differences, self-harm, and critical approaches to the study of the body and anomalous experience.

Teaching

Undergraduate
Introduction to Social and Differential Psychology
Research Methods C (qualitative)
Introduction to learning and behaviour

Postgraduate supervision

I am interested in supervising students who have an interest in using qualitative methods to explore, i) how mental or physical health is made sense within friendship, ii) issues concerning self-harm, with a particular focus on relationships, iii) the sense-making or constructions of body practices, i.e. tattooing, iv) perceptions of obesity.

Research

Hannah uses qualitative methodologies. Hannah’s research interests lie in exploring the lived experiences of those who provide care within a friendship, with a particular focus on the impact self-harm has on friends and friendship. Further research interests lie in the construction of obesity. As a teaching-focused lecturer, Hannah is also interested in exploring attainment gaps.