This workshop brings together speakers from a range of disciplines and organisations to explore the topic of emotional well-being and mental health and to consider the contribution being made by those undertaking professional doctorates, and those who deliver them.

In addition to examples of current research, the event explores the curriculum, methodologies and supervisory devices that might be particularly helpful for nurturing high impact research and how doctoral pathways can lead to real-world change.

With approximately 450 million people worldwide now living with a mental health issue, our collective well-being is one of the most pressing concerns of our time. Scholars and practitioners from a variety of disciplines are examining what needs to occur to enhance emotional well-being at national and global levels and there are exciting opportunities for professional doctorates to exert a significant influence in shaping the knowledge-base and practices of this challenging field.

Professional Doctorates are uniquely primed to undertake research in this area. Doctorates in clinical psychology, counselling psychology and psychotherapy are already helping create a brighter future for those who live with emotional difficulty while others with a broader remit, such as doctorates in education and doctorates in professional studies, are exploring areas that include the contribution of coaching to emotional well-being and interventions for young people. But can we do more? And if so what? This symposium brings together speakers from a range of disciplines and organisations to explore the topic of emotional well-being and mental health and to consider the contribution being made by those undertaking professional doctorates, and those who deliver them. In addition to examples of current research, the event explores the curriculum, methodologies and supervisory devices that might be particularly helpful for nurturing high impact research and how doctoral pathways can lead to real-world change.

The symposium provides a forum for sharing good practice across the curriculum and across sectors and universities. We invite colleagues who attend to bring poster case studies of doctoral students who are undertaking work in this field for a poster session which will then be included digitally on the UKCGE website amongst a collection of impact case studies.

We also invite colleagues to write academic papers and/or debate and discussion papers following the event which will appear in a special edition of the Work-Based learning e-journal international.