PhD - Psychological Distress and Suicidality in Primary Care

The University of Exeter Medical School (UEMS) is seeking to attract a PhD candidate of outstanding ability to improve the management of psychological distress and suicidality in primary care.

This PhD is jointly funded by the Judi Meadows Memorial Fund (JMMF) and the University of Exeter. The JMMF is part of the McPin Foundation, a charity specialising in user focused mental health research. The student will engage with the McPin Foundation and benefit from its expertise.         

In the U.K, over 6,500 people die by taking their own life each year. More than half of those who take their life have been to see their General Practitioner (GP) in the month before their death. Thoughts of suicide are a marker of psychological distress. Currently, the management of psychological distress in primary care is problematic. It is concerned with categorizing people into diagnoses, rather than engaging with psychological distress.

This PhD will develop a new way of working for GPs based on the doctor-patient relationship, shared understanding and personalized action, harnessing a person’s strengths. The rationale being that more inclusive engagement and action oriented to an individual’s concerns is more likely to both improve mental wellbeing and prevent suicide than attempts to train GP specifically in suicide prevention. The intervention will be co-produced with GPs and people with lived experience of psychological distress. The student will collaborate with the Lived Experience Group, University of Exeter.

In order to develop and test the new model the PhD will involve conducting focus groups and interviews with GPs and people experiencing psychological distress being seen in primary care. It will also involve video-recording GP-patient consultations to micro-analyse verbal and non-verbal communication. Applications from students with an interest in qualitative methods, conversation analysis and intervention development are especially welcome.

Academic Supervisors: Professor Rose McCabe, Professor of Clinical Communication, UEMS

Professor Richard Byng, Professor in Primary Care Research, University of Plymouth

Professor Chris Dickens, Professor of Psychological Medicine, UEMS

Funding Notes: The studentship will be fully-funded for UK/EU students, including a stipend of £14,296 per annum (based on the full-time 16/17 rate). Tuition fees will be paid at the UK/EU rate. International students who are ineligible for UK/EU fee levels are welcome to apply, but must have certified and guaranteed means to fund the additional fees required.

Entry requirements: Applicants should be highly motivated and have, or expect to obtain, either a first or upper-second class BSc (or equivalent) in a relevant discipline. International applicants must also have IELTS [International English Language Testing System] score of 7 and above (or equivalent qualification).

How to apply: Click here to apply

Please be aware you will be asked to upload the following:

• CV


• Letter of application outlining your academic interests, prior research experience and reasons for wishing to undertake the project.


• Transcript(s) giving full details of subjects studied and grades/marks obtained (this should be an interim transcript if you are still studying)


• If you are not a national of a majority English-speaking country you will need to submit evidence of your proficiency in English (see entry requirements)

If you have any general enquiries about the application process please email UEMS-graduateresearch@exeter.ac.uk  Project specific queries should be directed to the lead supervisor.

We regret that only candidates shortlisted for interview will be contacted.