By Helen Fay
A mental health researcher is looking for men and women living in LS12 to help with his studies.
Ben Gregory is a PhD researcher based in Psychological and Social Medicine at the University of Leeds. He is working towards a mental health research career, and is looking to make a positive impact with his work.
Ben said: “My research is exploring how a local area can affect mental wellbeing and suicide. I explore social aspects of mental health, considering how economics, social connection, culture, built environment and local area factors can affect people’s wellbeing.
“A lot of suicide prevention focuses on individual problems, but I think the social aspects are important.”
Ben has already made some contact with local participants via posts on various Armley community Facebook pages.
The study involves two specific strands.
Ben told WLD: “In study one, I’m looking for LS12 community members to give me a walking tour of the area to understand how a place can affect wellbeing. On the walk we take photos, track the walking route, and record the conversation. I then make a digital map to represent the physical, social, and emotional aspects of the place.”
The study contributes to suicide prevention and public mental health. Participants get a £20 giftpay voucher for taking part. The study is ethically approved by School of Medicine, University of Leeds.
If you’re interested in giving a walking tour of the area, click here.
Ben added “For the second phase, I’m looking to meet LS12 community members who have been directly affected by suicide (including your own experiences, being bereaved, supporting others). I want to talk about your experiences of the local area, suicide and explore the maps I’m working on.”
Ben is carrying out his research based on personal experience.
“Having been directly affected by suicide myself, I have a personal stake in my research topic and want to support prevention efforts,” he said.
“With this project I’m aiming to have an impact in supporting place-based suicide prevention efforts and improving public mental health. I will be sharing my findings with public mental health professionals and local community organisations and aim to have a positive impact on the area.”
For anyone in the LS12 area interested in taking part and sharing their experience, Ben can be contacted by calling or texting 07305 060779 or by emailing b.d.gregory@leeds.ac.uk
Ben’s University of Leeds profile can be found here.
Where can you get support?
You can get urgent support with your mental health, call your GP or 111 for urgent NHS appointments.
In emergencies call 999 or visit A&E. You can call Samaritans 24/7: 116 123 or locally call Leeds Survivor-led crisis 6pm-1am: 0808 800 1212.
You can self-refer for NHS talking therapies: call weekdays between 8am to 4pm by calling 0113 843 4388.
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