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SRN Midlands @srnmidlands.bsky.social · 1d

🌐 Explore more:
🔗 Website: srnmidlands.com
📝 Blog: blog.srnmidlands.com
🦋 Bluesky: srnmidlands.bsky.social

Whether you're just starting your PhD or deep into your research journey, we'd love to welcome you into the network. Visit our website to join!

SRN Midlands @srnmidlands.bsky.social · 1d

🎯 Our goal?
To foster a supportive community through peer learning, shared experiences, and open dialogue. While we’re not a formal support network, we aim to support each other in meaningful ways.

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SRN Midlands @srnmidlands.bsky.social · 1d

🛠 What have we been up to?
📚 Curated a resource list
🗣 Posted a joint commentary on an article on Best practices for supporting researchers’ mental health in EDR
🧠 Arranged a workshop on EDR led by Dr Georgia Bird at the MGS ESRC DTP Conference
✉ A mailing list & chat to connect researchers together

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SRN Midlands @srnmidlands.bsky.social · 1d

💬 What’s it all about?
We host monthly hybrid meetings (usually at the University of Birmingham), where members shape the agenda. Discussions range from challenges faced in our research to useful readings and shared insights, all in a welcoming, informal setting.

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SRN Midlands @srnmidlands.bsky.social · 1d

Are you a PhD student in the Midlands conducting sensitive or emotionally demanding research?

💭 Who are we?
A peer-led research network for PhD researchers across the Midlands who are navigating complex, emotionally demanding research (EDR). We are a @mgsesrcdtp.bsky.social student network!

A peer-led research network for PhDs conducting emotionally demanding research.

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Reposted by SRN Midlands

Liza Mügge @lizamugge.bsky.social · 23d

🔎✒️ How can we keep research teams and ourselves safe when studying politically sensitive topics? @britanlar.bsky.social and I present a new framework for protection and support drawing on feminist care ethics. The report is now available on the @men4dem.bsky.social website 👇

men4dem.bsky.social @men4dem.bsky.social · 23d

MEN4DEM releases a report introducing the Safe Research Ethics Framework. The framework, grounded in Feminist Care Ethics, offers practical tools to protect scholars working on politically sensitive topics.

Read more at men4dem.eu/news-events-...

#MEN4DEM

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Reposted by SRN Midlands

Midlands Mental Health Translational Research Centre @mhm-tc.bsky.social · Sep 10

In support of this great work the Empowering Community Action to Prevent Youth Suicide event takes place 17/10/25 18:30–20:30. Open to young people, parents, carers, charities, suicide prevention services, local authorities, community leaders, and researchers. www.birmingham.ac.uk/events/stron...

Stronger together: Empowering community action to prevent youth suicide - University of Birmingham

Raising awareness of help-seeking in youth facing self-harm or suicidal thoughts, and the barriers they encounter when accessing support.

www.birmingham.ac.uk

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SRN Midlands @srnmidlands.bsky.social · Aug 30

💡Did you know @thesprintproject.bsky.social have created downloadable infographics which are condensed versions of their report!

Find more here:
🔗 www.sprintproject.org/guidelines

The SPRINT project guidelines for researchers

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Reposted by SRN Midlands

Birmingham Network for Phenomenology and Mental Health @uobphenomenal.bsky.social · Aug 27

Our event is only a week away! Please do register if you haven’t done so already!

Birmingham Network for Phenomenology and Mental Health @uobphenomenal.bsky.social · Aug 20

🌟Registration for our PhD and ECR Research Day is now open! Click here to register and see the provisional schedule: forms.cloud.microsoft/e/deAH1HLcv2

We will be hearing amazing presentations on the theme of lived experiences in mental health, and talking about career goals and next steps!

Microsoft Forms

forms.cloud.microsoft

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SRN Midlands @srnmidlands.bsky.social · Aug 4

We're open to further ideas on what would benefit PhDs and ECRs the most! So do get into contact with us if you're interested in helping out.

SRN Midlands @srnmidlands.bsky.social · Aug 4

We're looking to set up a research day for PhDs and ECRs to navigate emotionally demanding research and reflexive practice.

If you're interested in helping run a session / know people who may be interested, please contact us!

It will be in person at the University of Birmingham

PhD and ECR day

We’re looking for:

Researchers or professionals who would be interested in helping facilitate a reflexive practice writing session
Researchers or professionals who would be interested in providing guides and resources on researcher wellbeing
Reflective accounts from researchers who have conducted EDR

If you are interested in working with us to run a session please contact Adam. a.chen@pgr.bham.ac.uk

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Reposted by SRN Midlands

CREST @crest-research.bsky.social · Jul 30

Doing research on tough topics? Missed our seminar? You’re not alone.

Check out our first NABS+ seminar readout on navigating emotionally demanding work, including memory impacts and practical strategies for self-care and supervision here:
crestresearch.ac.uk/nabs/early-c...

Doing Emotionally Demanding Research: A Dual Perspective of Supervisor and Researcher

Explore the personal and professional challenges of emotionally demanding research, and discover practical strategies to support researcher wellbeing from both practitioner and researcher…

crestresearch.ac.uk

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Reposted by SRN Midlands

Scottish Institute for Policing Research @the-sipr.bsky.social · Jul 16

📅 31 Oct | 📍 Abertay Uni, Dundee
Join us for a SIPR workshop on Working with Emotionally Demanding Material.
We’ll explore sensitive research, share strategies for self-care, and connect with others in the field.

🎟️ bit.ly/4m22njn
#SIPR #ResearchWellbeing

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SRN Midlands @srnmidlands.bsky.social · Jun 30

💡 Did you know the SRN Midlands has a blog?

It’s more than just updates; it’s a shared space where we reflect on the personal and professional sides of academic life through stories, commentaries, and reflections.

It’s a space for open dialogue and thoughtful engagement.

blog.srnmidlands.com

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SRN Midlands @srnmidlands.bsky.social · Jun 26

🔐 Members can access it here: members.srnmidlands.com (login required)

This is just one of the ways we’re building a supportive, peer-led space for PhD students across the Midlands.

SRN Midlands @srnmidlands.bsky.social · Jun 26

📚 Did you know we have a Resource List?

🧠 Suggested by our members, the list includes:
Methodological & ethical training materials
Reflective articles on EDR
Wellbeing resources to support your research journey

🎧 From articles and guides to podcasts — there's something for every stage of your PhD.

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Reposted by SRN Midlands

The SPRINT Project @thesprintproject.bsky.social · Jun 23

Access our free guidelines and resources for supporting researcher's mental health here www.sprintproject.org/guidelines

Thank you to all who attended today's workshop and to those who have participated in our survey. You can still take part via the link above!

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SRN Midlands @srnmidlands.bsky.social · Jun 23

Great to see @thesprintproject.bsky.social responding to survey responses and creating additional guidance!

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Reposted by SRN Midlands

CREST @crest-research.bsky.social · Jun 18

🗓️ Date for your diary!

NABS+ Early Career Researcher (ECR) Seminar, 'Doing Emotionally Demanding Research - A dual perspective of supervisor and researcher', Thurs 3 July, 11:00-12:00 (via Teams) with Dr Juliane Kloess and Dr Amy Burrell.

Details at crestresearch.ac.uk/nabs/opportu...

Opportunities

Check out the latest opportunities from the NABS+ community.

crestresearch.ac.uk

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SRN Midlands @srnmidlands.bsky.social · Jun 9

🖊🖊 New Blog post! A Step Towards a Framework for Supporting Researchers in Emotionally Demanding Research

A short commentary on the recent article published by Quinton et al. and the guidelines!

blog.srnmidlands.com#h.1mdk12v2uyhu

Blog

Welcome to the SRN Midlands blog page! The SRN Blog is a space for our members to post their thoughts, ideas and news

blog.srnmidlands.com

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SRN Midlands @srnmidlands.bsky.social · May 21

We're very happy to have @georgiabird.bsky.social run a workshop at the @mgsconference25.bsky.social

This workshop explores best practices for supporting researchers' mental health in emotionally demanding research.

MGS Conference 2025 @mgsconf.bsky.social · May 21

Emotionally Demanding Research

This workshop explores best practices for supporting researchers’ mental health in emotionally demanding research.

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Reposted by SRN Midlands

Susie S @sless.bsky.social · May 12

Upcoming seminar on researcher wellbeing - of interest to folk working in sensitive or emotionally demanding/challenging research (or those managing the environments in which this work is done!) www.eventbrite.com.au/e/researcher...

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SRN Midlands @srnmidlands.bsky.social · May 2

We've been working behind the scenes to create our blog page: blog.srnmidlands.com

You can find blog posts from our members, from commentaries to reflections!

Blog

Welcome to our blog page! The SRN Blog is maintained and managed by our members. This is a space for our members to post their thoughts, ideas and news.

blog.srnmidlands.com

Reposted by SRN Midlands

Dr Mary Quinton @maryquinton.bsky.social · Apr 15

Are you involved in emotionally demanding research in academic or non-academic research contexts? We'd love to hear what you think about the feasibility of our *new* guidelines to support researcher mental health!

Please share with anyone who you think may be interested!

Dr Georgia Bird @georgiabird.bsky.social · Apr 15

Protecting our mental health as researchers is not only important for our well-being but for our work!

Help us to evaluate guidelines for safeguarding researchers mental health ⬇️

- short survey
- win up to £200

app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk/s/bham/feasi...

www.sprintproject.org/guidelines

Supporting researchers mental health survey

app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk

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Reposted by SRN Midlands

The SPRINT Project @thesprintproject.bsky.social · Apr 10

🧠 New Guidelines to Safeguard Researchers' Mental Health

✨ View the guidelines: www.sprintproject.org/guidelines

Help us evaluate their usefulness & feasibility
📋 Take part in a survey: app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk/s/bham/feasi...

Let’s build a more psychologically safe research culture for all!

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