Charley Hobson-Merrett

Expertise

Mental health, service evaluation, Realist evaluation.

Biography

Charley is a mental health researcher with a passion for research that can be used to improve people’s wellbeing, lives, and the support they receive.  She has methodological expertise in Realist evaluation, IPA, evidence synthesis, and researcher in residence models.  Charley has evaluated mental health initiatives involving the integration of mental health trusts, GP practices and voluntary sector provision.  She has also evaluated initiatives to improve access to and provision of statutory and community services to minoritised groups.  Currently Charley is undertaking a Realist synthesis of interventions designed to reduce mental health inequalities for marginalised groups.  Recently Charley has been working on research regarding improving system level approaches to mental health service provision.  For example, utilising community assets and sociopsycho approaches to preventing and supporting poor mental health, particularly for those belonging to marginalised and disadvantaged groups and those with chronic pain and fibromyalgia.  Charley has an interest in improving quality of life for people taking mental health medications, including managing and coping with side effects.  When relevant Charley brings her own lived experience of mental health problems to research.

Charley teaches and supervises University of Plymouth students undertaking evidence synthesis as their thesis in MSc Dentistry.  She is also supervising a ResM student who is investigating mental health service access for refugees.

Charley lives in Wiltshire with her partner and her housemate.  She is owned by four cats.