Towards an enhanced understanding of suicide risk in men

This PhD is an exciting new partnership between the Scottish Association for Mental Health (SAMH, the funder) and the University. It is particularly suited to applicants from a psychology (or cognate discipline) background.

Background:
Suicide kills at least 800,000 people each year globally and it is the leading cause of death in young and middle-aged men in most Western countries including in the UK. What is more, 75% of all UK suicides are men. Although there have been many advances in our understanding of suicide risk, there are many gaps in our knowledge and our ability to reach the most vulnerable men is limited. There is general recognition that we need to move beyond solely psychiatric explanations of suicide risk, to focus on more complex approaches which integrate a large number of risk factors. To this end, O’Connor4 has developed the Integrated Motivational-Volitional model of suicidal behaviour (IMV), a theoretical model of suicidal behaviour. This model is now recognised as one of the predominant frameworks to understand suicide risk.
Aims:
Despite the fact that suicide deaths are most often among men especially among those who are most disadvantaged, relatively little research has focused specifically on men; this PhD project will address this dearth in the literature. The project aims to use the IMV model as a framework to understand suicide risk in men. The project will involve both quantitative and qualitative methods.

Both supervisors are located within the Institute of Health & Wellbeing in the in the College of Medicine, Veterinary and Life Sciences. The student will be based on the Gartnavel Royal Hospital site.

Please contact Professor O’Connor with any enquiries about the PhD.

About SAMH. SAMH is a third sector organisation which operates over 60 services in communities across Scotland providing mental health, social care support, homelessness, addictions and employment services. SAMH has a strong interest in suicide prevention.

Person specification
Applicants should have obtained, or expect to obtain a 2:1 or first class honours degree in a relevant subject.

How to apply
Applications will only be accepted through the University of Glasgow online system which can be accessed at http://www.gla.ac.uk/research/opportunities/howtoapplyforaresearchdegree/

A CV, supporting statement and 2 references should be included with your application.

Closing date for applications is 15th June 2018. Likely interview date will be Thurs 28th June 2018.

When applying, please enter the project title in the programme description of the online application form.

Start date: Autumn 2018