Staff Profile
Dr Heather Sutherland
Lecturer in Psychology
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Having previously researched/worked in the fields of Media History (University of Westminster) and (Docudrama) Performance (University of Reading), I joined the Department of Psychology as a Lecturer in January 2024, after completing a (second) qualitative-study PhD entitled 'Thinking Differently about 'Student Mental Health and Wellbeing' - Learning from Undergraduates' Storied 'University Life' Self-Reflections.' Whilst concluding this work, I also worked as a Research Support Assistant at Swansea University, on a qualitative research project exploring the intersections between work intensification and mental health in the experiences of academics who identify as female (working in the UK). My continuing research interests centre qualitative explorations of mental health and wellbeing (within education settings in particular) and suicide loss experiences. The shift to my current research foci stemmed from the lived(ing) experience of losing my brother to suicide in 2011; intertwined with this experience, I value interdisciplinary perspectives and working.
I have also worked as an Academic Skills/English for Academic Purposes Tutor at the Universities of Falmouth and Newcastle and the ITESO Guadalajara University in Mexico - I seek to support students with skill development alongside content learning, as a significant facilitative feature of a wider 'student experience'.
- School – School of Education, Language and Psychology
- Email – h.sutherland@yorksj.ac.uk
Further information
Teaching
I teach on the York St John University Final Year Psychology Module PSY6007M - Adolescent Development and Behaviour.
I also supervise undergraduate dissertation projects.
I teach on the York St John University Foundation Year Psychology Modules:
- PSY3010M: Contemporary Issues in Psychology
- PSY3012M: Extended Project
Research
My current research focuses on qualitative and interdisciplinary explorations of UKHE staff and student mental health and wellbeing-related and sibling suicide loss experiences. My research draws on a lived(ing) experience lens/perspective.
I am also qualitatively interested in the personal emotion work, experiences and support needs of researchers conducting work in the broad area that is mental health-related research, as well as conceptualizations/implementations of 'trauma informed pedagogies'.
Publications and conferences
Journal articles
Dietz, et al. (2023) ‘The impact of parent treatment preference and other factors on recruitment: lessons learned from a paediatric epilepsy randomised controlled trial.’ Trials. 24, 83. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-023-07091-9
Sutherland, H. (2013). ‘‘Trousered’ and ‘Sexless’ at the BBC: Women Light Entertainment Makers in the 1970s and 1980s’. Journal of British Cinema and Television, 10(3), 650-663. https://doi.org/10.3366/jbctv.2013.0163
Sutherland, H. (2011). ‘“Embedded Actors” as Markers of Authenticity: Acting the Real in “Troubles” Docudramas’, Studies in Documentary Film, 4(3), 267-282. https://doi.org/10.1386/sdf.4.3.267_1
Sutherland, H. (2010). “It Ought To Be A Dream”: Archives and Establishing the History of BBC Light Entertainment Production, 1975-87. Critical Studies in Television, 5(2), 154–170. https://doi.org/10.7227/CST.5.2.18
Sutherland, H. (2010) ‘Competitive Writing: BBC ‘Public Service’ Television Light Entertainment and Comedy in the 1970s and 1980s’. Journal of Screenwriting, 2(1), 7-23. https://doi.org/10.1386/josc.2.1.7_1
Book chapters
Bignell, J., Paget, D. J., Sutherland, H. A.and Taylor, L. (2011) ‘Narrativising the facts: acting in screen and stage docudrama’. In: Tönnies, M. and Flotmann, C. (eds.) Narrative in Drama. Contemporary Drama in English (18). Wissenschaftlicher Verlag Trier, Trier, pp. 21-52.
Sutherland, H. (2009). ‘The BBC: A Public Service Sound?’ in Harper, Graeme et al. (Eds). Sound and Music in Film and the Visual Media: An Overview. Continuum.
Other publications
Sutherland, H. (2024). ‘Distinctions and Visibilities: a personal reflection on ‘mental health’ as a labelled issue of concern in UK Higher Education Institutions’ in University & College Counselling Journal, 12(02), 10-15. British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). https://www.bacp.co.uk/bacp-journals/university-and-college-counselling/distinctions-and-visibilities/
Sutherland, H. (2021). ‘Studying for a PhD as a parent,’ ‘Student Story.’ Vlog commissioned by Student Minds for Student Space. Available online at: https://studentspace.org.uk/wellbeing/studying-for-a-phd-as-a-parent
Sutherland, H. (2020). ‘Part 1 - Student-ing, Parenting and Locking Down During the COVID-19 Pandemic’. Blog post for Student Minds. Available online at: https://www.studentmindsblog.co.uk/2020/04/student-ing-parenting-and-locking-down.html
Sutherland, H. (2020). ‘Part 2 - Reflections on Student-ing and Parenting during the COVID-19 Pandemic.’ Blog post for Student Minds. Available online at: https://www.studentmindsblog.co.uk/2020/04/reflections-on-student-ing-and.html
Sutherland, H. (2019). ‘The Clef and the Hummingbird’ in Heilmann, L. (ed.) Still With Us: Voices of Sibling Suicide Loss Survivors.
Sutherland, H. (2017-present). S-A-S: Sibling After Suicide. Personal Blog. Available online at: https://sibsas.blogspot.com/?m=1
Sutherland, H. (2017). ‘Literature Review, meet personal knowledge…’ Blog post for netECR-International Network of Early Career Researchers in Suicide and Self-Harm. Available online at: https://netecr.org/2017/12/22/literature-review-meet-personal-knowledge/
Sutherland, H. (2016). ‘Why I Haven’t Cancelled Christmas After My Brother’s Suicide’ for The Mighty. Available online at: https://themighty.com/topic/suicide/celebrating-christmas-after-suicide-loss/
Select conference papers and talks
June 2025 – Mikeysline (in association with Adventurous Audio Ltd) (2025, June 9), Number 56: ‘Heather Sutherland - Suicide loss as the wallpaper to your life’ [Audio Podcast]. https://www.mikeysline.co.uk/what-we-do/speaking-of-suicide-podcast/
May 2025 - BACP Annual Research Conference 2025, Manchester UK. Paper: "Thinking Differently about ‘Student Mental Health and Wellbeing’ (SMHWB) in the UK – Learning from Undergraduates’ Storied ‘University Life’ Self-Reflections."
April 2025 - Centre for Death and Life Studies – Closure Conference, Durham University, UK. Paper: ‘‘Lived Experience’ and ‘Closure’ – Work-in-Progress Research Reflections of a Suicide Bereaved Academic.’
June 2024 - King's College Student Mental Health Conference, London, UK. Discussion panel contributor – topic: 'What is the role of the university?'
March 2024 – York St John University 'The Only Way is Ethics Conference', York, UK. Paper: "We need to talk about 'Lived Experience'…"
December 2023 - Guest Lecture for ‘Media Methodologies’ Module in the Department of Arts. Northumbria University, UK. Session given: ‘Mental Health and the Media’.
September 2023 - British Sociological Association, Medical Sociology Annual Conference. University of Sussex, UK. Paper: ‘Behind the Posts – Social Media and Undergraduate-Student Mental Health and Wellbeing.’
July 2023 - Guest Speaker for the PTMF-Education Special Interest Group.
Talk given: ‘Thinking Differently about ‘Student Mental Health and Wellbeing’ – Learning from Undergraduates’ Storied ‘University-Life’ Self-Reflections’.
May 2023 - Northumbria University Psychology Department ‘Research Lunch’ Seminar Series. Northumbria University, UK. Talk given: ‘Behind the Posts – Social Media and Undergraduate-Student Mental Health and Wellbeing.’
October 2022 - Guest Speaker for the Edge Hill University (UK) Centre for Teaching and Learning Professional Development Sessions Series. Talk given: ‘Examining Student Mental Health, Distress and Wellbeing Qualitatively: Preliminary Findings from an Elicited-Reflections Study’.
June 2022 - Centre for Death and Society Annual Conference.
University of Bath, UK. Paper: ‘Grief, Loss and Academic Institutions – what can be learned from undergraduate experiences?’
May 2022 - Presentation to the SMaRteN (The Student Mental Health Research Network) ECR Research/Discussion Group. Presentation: ‘Examining Student Mental Health and Wellbeing Qualitatively.’
May 2021 - UKCGE 2nd International Conference on the Mental Health & Wellbeing of Postgraduate Researchers. Title of discussion led: Acknowledging Student-Parents/Guardians as a Means to Supporting Wellbeing and Mental Health.
June 2021 - ‘Motherhood and Work’ Conference.
University of Maynooth, Ireland. Paper: ‘‘Just a student’ - Reflections on Mothering and Studying During the COVID19 Pandemic.’
June 2017 - ‘Sociology and Intellectual Craftsmanship’: The Annual Manchester Postgraduate Sociology Conference. Manchester University, UK. Paper: ‘The ‘Martin Effect’: reflections on ‘emotional labor’ facets in qualitative suicide bereavement research.’
