If you have a particular grant you would like to apply for and would like support convening a team of experts to support the application, please get in touch (gemma.crawford@bristol.ac.uk) and we would be happy to discuss this further.

*Warning: This article discusses suicidal behaviour. If you have questions on self-harm or feel suicidal, use this link to find an international helpline.*

The PHSI were delighted to support a public screening of ‘Her Name Was Sita’ – a short documentary exploring womanhood, virtue, shame, and suicide in Nepal. In Nepal, suicide is the single leading cause of death among women of reproductive age. It is a serious but neglected public health problem. ‘Her Name Was Sita’ explores the concept of a virtuous woman and how shame and honour can lead to self-harm and suicide in Nepal.

The event, held at the M Shed in Bristol, showcased the film created by film maker Heshani Sothiraj Eddleston, as part of a collaboration between the University of Bristol Suicide and Self Harm group (SASH) and the University of Edinburgh Centre for Pesticide Suicide Prevention (CPSP). The film was followed by a panel discussion, which provided opportunity for a thought provoking conversation around the project and wider issues. The screening was well attended with 60 audience members from a variety of sectors including academia, charity, health, and the general public.

The trailer for the film can be found here, and more information is available on the CPSP​ website. To learn more about the University of Bristol SASH group, please visit their webpage.

Professor David Kessler has written a post for the Primary Care Research and Teaching blog, entitled Six years of researching mental health – what’s changed?

You can read this article and many more on the Centre for Academic Primary Care (CAPC) blog site.

The PHSI are recruiting for a Grade K, 0.6FTE Research and Impact Evaluation manager. This position will accelerate knowledge mobilisation, translation, implementation and impact of our research and enhance our non-academic partnerships through civic, patient and public, business and industrial links.

The postholder will play a pivotal role in:

• Developing and maintaining productive relationships with community partners, stakeholders in health and social care, and policy makers to create health, social and economic impact
• Mapping Population Health Bristol research and strengthening local capacity via training and networking within the University of Bristol
• Working with the Department for Research, Enterprise and Innovation to develop impact case studies and
• Developing implementation research/science at the University of Bristol.

More details and application here.

Application deadline 17th October.

Contact gemma.crawford@bristol.ac.uk with any questions.

The UK Faculty of Public Health is currently developing a programme of agenda-setting work revolving around the question “What is public health?”

As part of this project, Professor John Coggon, Chair in Law at the University of Bristol Law School and PHSI Steering Group member has drafted the following paper.

Find out more on the Faculty of Public Health webpage.

We would like to extend an open invitation to attend the next PHSI Steering Group meeting on Wednesday 27th September 11:30-12:30.

If you have an interest in population health and would like an opportunity to help shape the PHSI, we would love to see you there.

Everyone welcome.

Joining instructions:

Click here to join the meeting

Meeting ID: 319 398 086 566

Passcode: ewUqfp

The PHSI are very excited to be collaborating with Nick Street from Street Films to create a short, informative video which will feature on our website. The aim of this project is to highlight and promote the incredible research that takes place within the institute.

We have a meeting scheduled with Nick on 12th July, 11:30-12:30 to discuss the film, light refreshments will be provided. If you would be interested in finding out more and potentially featuring your work in the film, we have limited spaces to join the discussion.

Whether you would like to be in front of the camera or would prefer to get involved with generating ideas for content, we would love to hear from you.

If you would like to attend the meeting or find out more about this project, please contact gemma.crawford@bristol.ac.uk .

For examples of Street Film’s work, please visit their website.

The PHSI have a small budget available to support workshops and events relating to population health. We are particularly keen to help facilitate activities relating to early and mid career researchers.

If you would be interested in finding out more please contact gemma.crawford@bristol.ac.uk.

To mark this year’s World Cancer Day, Professor Richard Martin, deputy director of the PHSI, discussed the programme’s aims, recent highlights, and the role of open access in supporting cancer research.

World Cancer Day, held every 4 February, is a global initiative led by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) to raise awareness, improve education and catalyze action. This year’s theme is ‘Close the Care Gap: Uniting our voices and taking action’.

In celebration of this year’s theme, the PLOS blog, EveryONE, interviewed PLOS ONE author Richard Martin, Professor of Clinical Epidemiology at the University of Bristol and co-lead researcher of the Integrative Cancer Epidemiology Programme (ICEP). In the interview he shared an overview of ICEP’s aims and some recent research highlights, including exploring the link between obesity and cancer progression and research into different types of lung cancer, drawing on epidemiological methods such as Mendelian randomization.

Martin also discussed some of the challenges facing interdisciplinary research, the role of open science in overcoming these challenges, and how engagement with patient communities has increased the impact of ICEP research.

Read the blog post