PhD project summary:
Evidence suggests that one in 10 men experience mental health difficulties in the first six months of becoming a parent, with first-time and younger fathers being particularly vulnerable. These difficulties can lead to emotional distress, lack of bonding with the baby and relationship problems. Despite this impact, fathers report that they lack access to information about mental health support and services during this time. While the evidence shows that music and singing is a powerful tool for supporting the mental health of new mothers, there is currently no evidence on whether creative programmes are reaching new fathers and whether these programmes can support their mental health and wellbeing. To respond to these challenges, a community arts organisation called Breathe Arts Health Research has adapted their award-winning evidence-based programme of singing groups for new mothers with postnatal depression (Breathe Melodies for Mums) into a new singing group programme for fathers of babies aged 0-12 months old (Breathe Melodies for Dads).
Using a review of published research evidence, ethnographic methods alongside interviews with participants, group singing leaders, programme delivery staff and healthcare professionals, this project aims to understand i) what helps and what does not help new fathers to access creative health programmes, ii) how and why creative health programmes can support the mental health of new fathers and iii) how to make sure evidence-based creative health programmes are made available to more families who need mental health support.
This project ultimately aims to i) raise awareness among new fathers about the benefits to mental health that creative health programmes can provide, ii) increase accessibility to creative health programmes to support the mental health of new fathers and iii) provide much needed evidence on the impact and implementation of creative health programmes to support men’s mental health. Given that there is currently no evidence-base supporting arts-based programmes for new fathers, this novel research project could help make the case for further funding of these programmes going forward.
We encourage applications from candidates who have experience working with, or who reflect the participants/communities we are trying to reach
Supervisor(s):
Alexandra Burton: a.burton@qmul.ac.uk
Catherine Carr: c.e.carr@qmul.ac.uk
CASE non-academic partner: Breathe Arts Health Research: https://breatheahr.org/
LISS Institution: Queen Mary University of London, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Centre for Psychiatry and Mental Health/Wolfson Institute of Population Health
PhD Programme: PhD FT Wolfson Institute (Non-Clinical) – Semester 1 start
Full-time / Part-time: Full-time
1+3.5 or +3.5 studentship: +3.5
Fee Eligibility: Home‑eligible applicants only (UKRI eligibility guidance)
How to apply:
To apply, please complete and return the documents below to the project supervisor(s) directly
- LISS DTP CASE application form
- Academic transcripts
- References
- CV
- Additional information as stipulated in the CASE project listing
Additionally, all applicants must complete:
- LISS DTP Diversity Monitoring Form (online)
- QMUL PhD admissions application: PhD FT Wolfson Institute (Non-Clinical) – Semester 1 start
Closing date for applications: 4th March 2026
Interviews date: week commencing 16th March 2026