Understanding and supporting the mental health and professional quality of life of academic mental health researchers: results from a cross-sectional survey

Our findings highlight the wealth of lived experience amongst mental health researchers, and the importance of providing systematic proactive support for this group, as well as for those with a disability or chronic illness, or those using qualitative methodologies. With sickness absence having considerable economic and organisational consequences for employers and funders, recommendations include developing researcher well-being plans, regular end of project debriefs, development and training on challenging topics, and clearer consideration of researcher support in funding applications.