On the 16th and 17th of May 2019, UKCGE held the ‘1st International Conference on the Mental Health and Wellbeing of PGRs’ in Brighton. PGR mental health and wellbeing has been an issue of increasing attention, with 17 funded projects on this topic taking place at universities across the UK, including the ‘PGR Well Bee-ing Project’ at the University of Manchester. Myself and Rebecca (Research Assistant on the PGR Well Bee-ing Project) were invited to the conference to present on the invaluable contribution of PGRs to the PGR Well Bee-ing Project. It was brilliant to be able to share the work we have been doing with the project’s PGR consultative forum and reflect on the contributions of PGRs to the project.  

The keynote panel discussion set the tone of the conference, as students reflected their own experience of mental health and wellbeing within a PhD context. One of the student panel members shared an emotive video diary she had created, documenting the final 70 days working towards thesis submission, which can be viewed here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXoaIwmGfMI.

Many of the sessions at the conference were practice based, sharing findings from initiatives to support the mental health and wellbeing of PGRs. Dr Jo Collins from University of Kent led a session on ‘creative methods to promote student wellbeing’ workshop, using Lego modelling. Lego modelling has provided an effective way for individuals to express their PGR experience and share with others. Colleagues from Salford University, Dr Ursula Hurley & Davina Whitnall presented the initiative ‘Failure Friday’ through which they encourage viewing failing as part of the research process. Another highlight was a presentation led by PGR Sarah Mansfield, who shared her work on increasing peer to peer support within the PGR community at the University of York. A series of successful events have been held at the University of York led by PGRs, for PGRs, creating a relaxed and supportive environment for new PGRs to learn from PGRs further into their programmes.

It was fantastic to hear about the good practice happening across the UK to address issues around PGR mental health and wellbeing. A real strength of the conference was the PGR voice, it was inspiring to hear from a real range of students involved in initiatives in their own institutions and making a difference.

Full details about the conference and programme is available here: http://www.ukcge.ac.uk/events/mhconference19-134.aspx

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