PhD Studentship: Co-producing peer support resources for young people with mental health difficulties in rural and coastal communities

Primary supervisor - Dr Sheri Oduola

Background 

In the UK, 18% of young people aged 6–24 years have a diagnosable mental health disorder, with rates rising to 25% in rural and coastal communities. These communities face higher burdens of mental illness due to social isolation, stigma, limited infrastructure, and reduced access to services, all of which contribute to treatment delays. Such delays increase the risk of self-harm, hospital admissions, disrupted education, and unemployment. 

Peer support—practical and social support provided by individuals with lived experience of mental health difficulties—may help reduce these negative outcomes. Evidence shows that peer support can enhance coping and empowerment and reduce stigma, but most research focuses on adults. Much less is known about how peer support functions for young people in under-resourced rural and coastal settings, or how it might help prevent crisis and improve wellbeing. 

Aims / Objectives 

This PhD study aims to: 

1. Map peer support available to young people in rural/coastal communities and identify gaps (WP1a). 
2. Conduct a realist systematic review to examine how, why, for whom, and in what circumstances peer support works for young people in rural/coastal settings (WP1b). 
3. Explore experiences of young people, family carers, and peer supporters, including barriers and facilitators to good support (WP2). 
4. Coproduce resources and guidance to strengthen peer support for young people (WP3). 

Methods: A mixed methods design will be employed to address the study aims as follows: 

WP1: Service mapping will identify existing peer support, good practices, and unmet needs. A realist literature review will explore contexts and mechanisms that influence effectiveness. 

WP2: A qualitative study using interviews and focus groups with young people and peer supporters will examine experiences of accessing and delivering support and identifying barriers and facilitators. 

WP3: Through stakeholder workshops, we will integrate findings from WP1/2 to identify gaps in provision and co-produce resources/actions to address identified priority needs and strategies for implementation. 

Training

This PhD programme will provide robust training in mixed methods. Training opportunities include (but are not limited to): 

• Realist methods 
• Co-production principles 

This interdisciplinary study will enable the PhD candidate to work with young people with lived experience of mental health difficulties, mental health providers, and community organisations across the East of England.

Entry requirements

You will hold a 2:1 or above and a Master's degree in health or a related subject. 

Mode of study

Full-time

Start date

1 October 2026

Additional Funding Information

This project is fully funded for 3 years. Funding includes tuition fees, an annual tax-free maintenance allowance and a research training support budget.

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