Wellbeing Interventions & Culture Change: Transforming Research Environments

Breaking the Silence on Wellbeing in Academia

For years, wellbeing was an unspoken concern in academia—something researchers struggled with privately, yet institutions failed to acknowledge. When I first began working in researcher development, I noticed a glaring gap: the very structures meant to support researchers often left them isolated, overwhelmed, and uncertain about their place in the system. The pressure to produce, publish, and secure funding created a culture where burnout was normalised and wellbeing was sidelined.

I knew this had to change.

The Wellbeing Wednesday Initiative

In 2013, at The University of Manchester, I developed and launched Wellbeing Wednesday, a 10-week structured program designed to foster emotional resilience and psychological safety in research environments. Drawing on evidence from positive psychology, emotional intelligence, and applied coaching methodologies, I created a space where researchers could pause, reflect, and build sustainable wellbeing practices.

Programme Highlights

  • Collaborative Design – Co-developed with university counseling services to ensure psychological safety and effective signposting.

  • Interactive Workshops – Engaging, discussion-based sessions incorporating practical exercises and peer learning.

  • Immersive Environments – Sessions hosted at Manchester Museum, a neutral, calming space outside of traditional academic settings.

  • Long-Term Impact – Structured follow-ups to assess wellbeing progression and implement sustainable change.

Outcomes & Impact

Over five years, Wellbeing Wednesday supported over 150 researchers, many of whom had never engaged with wellbeing-focused training before. According to post-program evaluations:

✅ 85% of participants reported increased resilience in handling research-related stress.
✅ 78% reported feeling more confident in managing work-life balance.
✅ 92% said the program helped them feel less isolated and more connected to their peers.

Feedback from participants highlighted the transformative nature of the sessions:

"This course changed the way I think about my work and my own wellbeing. I no longer feel guilty for needing breaks—it's part of how I stay effective."

"Before this program, I didn’t even realize how much I was struggling. The structured discussions helped me rebuild my motivation and confidence."

"The best thing? Realizing that I'm not alone. Academia can feel incredibly isolating, but these sessions created a sense of community I never expected."

Institutional Change

The success of Wellbeing Wednesday had a ripple effect beyond individual participants. It contributed to a broader cultural shift in how universities approach researcher wellbeing:

  • The PGR Wellbeing Project used insights from the program to advocate for institution-wide wellbeing policies.

  • Wellbeing-focused facilitation models from the program were later integrated into academic supervisor training workshops.

Supporting Supervisors: A Culture Shift in Research Leadership

One of the most profound lessons from my work in wellbeing interventions was recognising the critical role of academic supervisors in shaping research culture. Supervisors often bear the unspoken burden of emotional support, yet many feel ill-equipped to handle the pastoral aspects of their roles.

In response, I designed Supporting PGR Wellbeing, a training series for supervisors that provided:
✅ Clarity on pastoral responsibilities and realistic expectations.
✅ Practical triaging models to guide supervisors in signposting appropriate support.
✅ A peer learning approach, where supervisors could share strategies and challenges.

The workshops had a tangible impact on research culture:

  • 100+ supervisors across three divisions attended, leading to more consistent wellbeing support for researchers.

  • 75% of attendees reported feeling more confident in supporting PGR wellbeing.

  • Feedback consistently highlighted the workshops as transformative, with many requesting ongoing refresher sessions.

One particularly memorable moment came when a supervisor shared their experience of supporting a student in crisis: “This was the first time I’ve been able to talk openly about the emotional load of supervision. It’s a relief to know I’m not the only one navigating this.”

Sustaining the Change: The Future of Wellbeing in Research

The legacy of these interventions is clear: research culture can change when institutions actively invest in the wellbeing of their people. I continue to work with universities, research teams, and supervisors to embed positive psychology, emotional intelligence, and systemic wellbeing strategies into research environments.

Wellbeing is not a luxury. It is a prerequisite for sustainable, innovative, and high-quality research. And with the right interventions, we can build research cultures that support, not suppress, the people who drive them.