Community Psychology and Community based interventions

Catherine has a specialist interest in community based interventions in relation to suicide, loneliness and mental health. Catherine is currently working with local neighbourhood and peer support organisations to examine factors which enhance emotional wellbeing.

Suicide and self-harm

Member of the National Suicide Prevention Alliance and locally the Tees Valley Suicide Prevention Task Force.

Catherine has undertaken research into the relationship between self-criticism, self-eteem and suicidality. Catherine is interested in mutual aid and community based approaches to suicide prevention, which focus on enhancing belonging and social support. 

Culture, BAME, refugee and asylum seekers

Catherine worked for Just Psychology, a social enterprise specialising in applying knowledge of culture and diversity in relation to mental health, social care and community psychology. Whilst here Catherine lead on a ‘Cultural Consultants’ project. working with the Somali, Eastern European and Chinese communities to increase cultural knowledge and understanding in health and social services. This was in partnership with Survivors Manchester (an IAPT service specialising in the support of men who have experienced sexual abuse).

Mental Health of Children and Young People

Catherine has undertaken research into the mental health needs of young people in the North East, in partnership with local voluntary and community organisations.

Self-Harm and Suicidality

Catherine has lead on an evaluation project around self-harm in young people. The project examined a community and school based self-harm project in Sunderland, interviewing young people in schools, their parents and professionals about a self-harm support network for young people

Schools based mental health

Consultation around a 'whole schools approach' to mental health and wellbeing, using compassion focused approaches.

Homelessness and Psychologically Informed Environments

Consultation around organisational approaches to using psychological knowledge when working with homeless individuals. To include trauma informed approaches, team based support planning and staff support groups, development of evaluation reports around implementation of these approaches.