Effective training and development for supporting mental health and wellbeing

This chapter explores how development and training programmes might support institutions in promoting the mental health and wellbeing of doctoral researchers. Drawing on examples from a number of projects which were funded by the Office for Students/Research England, this chapter explores the effectiveness of development and training programmes for academic and professional staff and doctoral researchers. It identifies five different, but related categories of training programmes: mental health literacy, psychological and emotional resources, supporting the supervisory relationship, research skills and development and coaching and mentoring. The aim is to provide an overview of the most effective interventions and to provide guidance on selecting and developing the development and training most appropriate for particular contexts and circumstances. It concludes with some recommendations for relevant stakeholders – doctoral researchers, supervisors, professional staff supporting doctoral researchers, senior institutional leaders and the wider higher education sector.