CHOICE Team

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Research Team

Discover more about the people behind CHOICE.

We are a wide network of people and organisations working to tackle the issues of social exclusion and poor physical health among people living with severe and enduring mental health problems.

Professor Gerard Leavey

Director of the Bamford Centre for Mental Health and Wellbeing

School of Psychology

Coleraine

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+44 28 7012 4511 Email Gerard Leavey

April Perrie

Research Project Officer

School of Psychology

Belfast

+442870123538 Email April Perrie

Dr Grainne McAnee

Research Associate

School of Psychology

Belfast

+44 28 9536 7283 Email Grainne McAnee

Dr Rebecca Watterson

Post-Doctoral Research Associate

School of Psychology

Belfast

Email Rebecca Watterson

Core Team

Dr Ian Miller

Senior Lecturer in History

School of Arts & Humanities

Coleraine

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+44 28 7012 4083 Email Ian Miller

Play DrKyle Boyd's video

Dr Kyle Boyd

Lecturer in Interaction Design

Belfast School of Art

Belfast

BA-03-013

Play DrKyle Boyd's video

+44 28 9536 7205 Email Kyle Boyd

Dr Pamela Whitaker

Lecturer in Art Psychotherapy

Belfast School of Art

Belfast

Email Pamela Whitaker

Dr Saul Golden

Senior Lecturer

Belfast School of Architecture & the Be

Belfast

BC-05-172

+44 28 9536 7453 Email Saul Golden

Dr Stephen Shannon

Senior Lecturer

School of Sport

Derry~Londonderry

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+44 28 7167 5302 Email Stephen Shannon

Core Team External

Professor Gavin Davidson

Professor of Social Care, Queen's University Belfast

View Overview for Professor Gavin Davidson

Professor Gavin Davidson

Find out more about Professor Gavin Davidson

Professor Brynmor Lloyd-Evans

Professor of Mental Health and Social Inclusion, University College London, Division of Psychiatry

View Overview for Professor Brynmor Lloyd-Evans

Professor Brynmor Lloyd-Evans

Find out more about Professor Brynmor Lloyd-Evans

Community Navigator Team

Kyria Hannigan

Community Navigator based at Praxis Care

View Overview for Kyria Hannigan

Kyria Hannigan

Kyria has been a valued member of the Praxis Care Derry/Londonderry team since joining in 2017.

Initially commencing employment in the role of support worker within Supported Living adult domiciliary care, her passion for ensuring the people we support were enabled to live fulfilling and meaningful lives was undeniable. Her solution focused approach combined with Kyria’s natural tenacity repeatedly saw barriers removed for many who had previously been marginalised; making long held ambitions a reality.

Efforts and outcomes achieved saw her commended by those we support, their representatives, commissioners and colleagues alike which led to progression to the role of Team Leader in which she continued to thrive. Kyria sees the person and not the label and in highlighting strengths held, empowers individuals to dare to view things from a new perspective to develop greater possibilities and potential.

Kyria’s personal life saw her taking on caring responsibilities for others impacted by addition and poor mental health. Kyria understands the extensive and far-reaching impact poor health can have for both the individual themselves as well as their wider circle.

An experience often needlessly made more challenging due to stigmatisation that can see people’s voices minimised, silenced and forgotten. Understanding the impact inequality and lack of resources within her own area has, she actively sought to become part of the solution.

This led to engagement in community development, developing an unwavering commitment to fostering empowerment, advocacy and partnership working in the hope of creating more inclusive and resilient communities for the benefit of all, irrespective of need.

CHOICE Coalition

CHOICE is guided by a Community Advisory Board, XXX, community coalition. You can find out more about them XXX. ASSETS xxx And we'd love to hear from you!