I will be presenting some of the results of my PhD research at the World Conference on Qualitative Research in February 2026. The presentation will be based on my forthcoming journal article: 

“I don’t know but it’s not meditation or puppy stroking”: A qualitative study of factors affecting students’ mental health and how universities could help 

Introduction 

Student mental health is a significant concern for universities in the UK and worldwide. The number of university students with mental health problems and challenges continues to rise, and an effective response is urgently required. 

This study aimed to investigate the positive and negative factors which affect student mental health, and the ways in which universities could help. Students from any UK university (N = 207) completed an online mental health survey after responding to an advertisement on social media. As part of the questionnaire, participants were given text boxes to answer open-ended questions about factors which positively and negatively affect their mental health, and how universities could improve mental health in their students. Responses were analysed using reflective thematic analysis. Frequencies for each theme were calculated and compared between first generation students (FGS; neither parent has a university degree) and continuing generation students (CGS; one or both parents has a university degree).  

Results 

Positive factors affecting mental health were grouped into four themes: people; university life; recreation; and mental health support. Negative factors affecting mental health were grouped into three themes: university life; relationships; and personal issues. Suggestions for how universities could improve mental health in their students were grouped into four themes: mental health support; academic experience; integration; and systemic issues. Frequencies for most themes differed between FGS and CGS. 

Conclusions 

It is clear from the results of this study that universities can and should do more to address rising rates of mental ill health in students.  Participants gave valuable insights into mental health problems and challenges in students, and made extremely useful suggestions for universities. Future research should expand on this. 

Keywords: student mental health; university students; higher education

For further information about the conference and to register:
10th World Conference on Qualitative Research

I am absolutely delighted to have been selected for the BBC National Short Story Award/University of Cambridge Partnership Scheme. I will be part of the 2026 cohort helping to administer the awards and accompanying activities. What a wonderful opportunity!

BBC National Short Story Award

BBC/Cambridge Partnership Scheme

I built a website to showcase the written pieces produced by first generation students in the writing workshops and it is now live.

I am so grateful to everyone who has attended a writing workshop and contributed to the website. The pieces are brilliant and I hope you enjoy reading them.

I will be holding more workshops in October 2025 and will continue to add written pieces as they are submitted.

I will be holding a workshop at the Cambridge Creative Research Conference on 25th October 2025:

The Joy (and Pain) of Creative Research: Insights from an Online Writing Project 

The aim of this workshop is to encourage participants to consider the use of creative writing as a research method, using a real-life example of a project which forms part of my PhD research into mental health in first generation students at UK universities (FGS; those whose parents do not have a university degree). 

After a brief introduction to my research and the project - ‘First Generation Students UK: Mental Health Matters’ - participants will have the opportunity to engage in three writing exercises I use in my workshops (word cloud using Menti, story completion and free writing using Padlet) to give them first-hand experience of attending a writing workshop.  We will then discuss and/or share our writing if participants are comfortable doing so (no obligation).  To finish, I will share some of the creative writing produced by the participants in my project and featured on the website First Generation Students UK 

Participants will come away with knowledge and skills in planning and facilitating a writing workshop, and a demonstration of how short writing exercises can promote creativity and a high calibre of writing which gives unique and impactful insights into the topic being researched.  I will give participants a realistic view of the joy (and pain) involved in this project and am more than happy to offer advice and assistance to anyone considering creative writing as part of their own research.   

For further information about the conference and to register:
Cambridge Creative Research Conference 2025