Tobit Emmens is a leading the development of the centre for innovation & technology for mental health and wellbeing

Tobit is also Head of Research Management and Innovation for Devon Partnership NHS Trust and a University Fellow at the Peninsula Medical School. He received his MSc (a meta-narrative review on suicide and media) from The Peninsula Medical School / University of Exeter in 2010.

As a health services researcher, his research includes mixed-method approaches in both online and off-line settings, and include the investigation of patterns of ecstasy (MDMA) use in two English counties, the identification and management of suicide ‘hotspots’, the use of SMS Text Messages to support people who self-harm and the role of online communities for people who self-harm. Research interests include technology, social media, Internet safety, suicide and self-harm, how the Internet safety agenda relates to vulnerable young adults who self-harm and/or have other mental health problems, the provision of mental health services in the developing world and social justice issues.

He has collaborative links with the Berkman Center for Internet and Society (Harvard Law School) where he has contributed to the Youth and Media Policy Working Group Initiative

Prior to his NHS research role, Tobit worked as a support worker, naturopath and nutritionalist for people with problematic drug use (heroin, cocaine and crack) and with young offenders and before that he practiced extensively as a sports therapist for the British Olympic Cycling Team, an International Professional Mountain Bike Team, The Australian Institute of Sport, The British National Mountain Bike Squad and other professional and amateur athletes.

Dr Gareth Owen is an Associate Research Fellow at the Peninsula Medical School with a professional background in medical social work.

As a social worker he particularly specialised in the fields of HIV/AIDS, substance use and palliative care while working at the Chelsea & Westminster Hospital, Barts & the Royal London Hospitals and St Christopher’s Hospice in London.

He has a Masters degree in Social Analysis and a PhD in Sociology specialising in qualitative research methods.

Gareth is currently working on the ‘Public involvement in suicide prevention’ study and is contributing to service user led research on the psychosocial impact of HIV/AIDS in people over 50 at the Chelsea & Westminster Hospital. He has also recently published on the experience of stigma in HIV/HCV co-infection.

Dr Richard Laugharne is a Consultant General Adult Psychiatrist working for Cornwall Partnership NHS Trust and Honorary Clinical Lecturer with the Peninsula Medical School. He is Clinical Tutor for junior doctors in Cornwall. His research interests are in postmodern cultural change and its impact on the delivery of mental health services, particularly in relation to patient choice, trust and power. He is also interested in the use of patient-held records and is involved in mental health service evaluation in Ghana.

Sarah Robens is an social anthropologist currently finishing her PhD at the Peninsula Medical School

Sarah’s PhD work has explored issues surrounding the involvement of mental health service users and carers in putting together and reviewing individual care plans.  This has been a piece of qualitative research, analyzing data emerging from observations of care plan review meetings as well as in-depth interviews carried out with service users and care coordinators.  The idea for the PhD came from Exeter based service users, and Sarah has been working with a stakeholder group of service users, carers and healthcare professionals throughout the PhD.

Before embarking on her PhD, Sarah worked on similar issues relating to involvement and participation, but in overseas development.  Working as a consultant for a range of development agencies such as DFID and the World Bank, Sarah carried out participatory planning, evaluations and impact assessments of development projects with poor communities.  Developing innovative and effective participatory and qualitative approaches to project cycle management was important in ensuring that the voices of the most vulnerable could be heard.   It meant that in a world often dominated by statistics, an understanding could emerge of people’s experiences which could be fed into future development projects.

Damo Cross is a freelance Producer/Director/Editor who is enthusiastic about creative media with a high visual impact.

Focused on promotional video & film production, interactive video for web/mobile, creative 2/3D animation, and digital design and web development

Damo is passionate about working with people who think outside of the box and enjoys creating projects that have an edge. Damo has worked with us on a number of video projects using our HD DSLR kit.