Introduction
This is an exciting opportunity for a doctoral student to join a large research consortium seeking to substantially improve urban health by investigating the highly interdisciplinary and complex area of urban development decision-making. This PhD will specifically focus on the impact of urban development on population mental health, and mental health inequalities.
Background
TRUUD is part of the UK Prevention Research Programme (UKPRP), which aims to deliver real changes that reduce the burden of these disease and enable people to live longer, healthier lives. Many aspects of the world around us influence our health, from the communities in which we live, to the design of our cities and transport systems, the quality of our housing and the education to which we have access. TRUUD seeks to examine how decision-making and issues of power and control in the urban development arena might be influenced to better take account of the prevention of non-communicable diseases, including mental health. Although led within University of Bristol’s Population Health Sciences, TRUUD is a highly integrated programme of work, coordinated across five universities, two local government partners, and a wide range of disciplines including: public health, urban development, policy, economics, systems engineering, management, real estate investment, and law. In addition, this PhD will be linked to School of Psychological Sciences and another UKPRP consortium focused on the commercial determinants of health and health inequalities – SPECTRUM.
Mental health disorders affect almost one in four of the adult UK population at any one time, with greater problems experienced among disadvantaged groups. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic evidence is gathering that levels of anxiety and depression have increased among women, younger adults and those on lower incomes. Urban living potentially creates both risk factors (pollutants, noise, fragmented social networks, unsafe spaces) and protective factors (increased access to facilities, employment, urban green spaces) for mental health. Yet there is evidence to suggest that in developed countries, overall prevalence of many mental disorders including anxiety and depression are highest among those living in cities compared to rural areas. Further, the urban environment is a key driver of mental health inequalities, as those living in more deprived areas have less access to the beneficial effects of urban living and greater exposure to the risks, with resultant poorer mental health. Although evidence is increasing regarding the association between urban living and mental health, less is known about effective interventions to alter the physical environment in ways that may improve mental health, particularly among those at greater risk, including minority ethnic groups and socially disadvantaged groups.
Overall Aim of the PhD
To develop understanding of the ways in which the urban development impacts on mental health and mental health inequalities, and identify potential interventions in this area, which may be feasible to develop and evaluate in a future large-scale study.
Objectives
1. To conduct a systematic literature review to i) examine the ways in which the urban environment widens mental health inequalities ii) identify changes to urban environments that are effective at improving mental health among those groups most at risk
2. To undertake quantitative analyses of the features of local neighbourhood that impact on mental health using pre-existing cohort datasets (e.g. ALSPAC, the Millenium Cohort)
3. To conduct a qualitative study with members of socially disadvantaged communities to examine their experiences of the ways in which their local neighbourhood contributes to mental health inequalities
4. To work with the wider TRUUD consortium to undertake systems mapping workshops with key stakeholders (policymakers, private sector decision makers, those living in disadvantaged communities) to identify potential interventions that will improve public mental health and reduce mental health inequalities
University of Bristol, Bristol Medical School
Bristol Medical School is the largest and one of the most diverse Schools in the University of Bristol, with approximately 930 members of staff and over 220 postgraduate doctoral research students. The School is a leading centre for research and teaching across Population Health Sciences and Translational Health Sciences. Research in the School is collaborative and multi-disciplinary, with staff coming from a wide range of academic disciplines and clinical specialties.
The 2014 Research Excellence Framework (REF) confirmed the University of Bristol’s position as a leading centre for health research. In Population Health Sciences 50% of our research was rated as 4* (world leading), and 86% as 4* or 3* (world- leading or internationally excellent). 100% of our research impact case studies were rated as world-leading, as was 100% of our research environment. This recognition of our outstanding impact and research environment reflects our engagement with patients, the public and policy makers and our commitment to training, staff development, multi-disciplinary research and collaboration. In the areas of Clinical Medicine and Psychology, Psychiatry and Neuroscience returns from staff in the Medical School also had approximately 80% in the world-leading (4*) or internationally excellent (3*) categories.
Within the Medical School are several major research centres, groups and programmes. More details can be found on the Medical School website.
How to apply
Apply online. Select the “Faculty of Health Sciences` and “Population Health Sciences” PhD programme and state in the application that you are applying for funding from the TRUUD programme. Please ensure you have read our admissions statement before making an application. We request a research proposal from you as part of the application. This should be in your own words and an outline of the project as you understand it. TRUUD offers support for 3 years starting October 2021 including a stipend at UKRI rates £15,609(21/22), UK PhD registration fees at £4475 and an RTSG grant for travel/conferences. International/EU students are welcome to apply if they can fund the difference in fees. International/EU fees are £23,900.
Applicants should have a Masters in public health or social sciences (or equivalent research experience), with an interest in the environmental drivers of population mental health.
Shortlisted applicants will be invited for interview in June 2021.
Enquiries: Judi Kidger [Email Address Removed] 0117 3313910
Closing Date: 24th May 2021
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