Caring for Carers: An Exploratory Study of Support Needs for Unpaid Carers of People with Serious Mental Illness in Rural UK University of Worcester in United Kingdom

This full-time PhD studentship at the University of Worcester investigates the support needs of unpaid carers for people with serious mental illness (SMI) in rural UK contexts. The project addresses a significant gap in UK-specific evidence regarding rural carers, focusing on Herefordshire and Worcestershire. Unpaid carers, often excluded from formal healthcare delivery, face complex responsibilities and challenges, including social isolation, limited access to services, and intersecting inequalities such as ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and gender.

The research will use qualitative interviews with rural carers to explore their perspectives, identify current support provisions, and examine factors that may exclude carers from accessing help. The study also considers how rurality compounds social isolation and access to support, building on recent systematic reviews and government reports highlighting the need for improved relationships between carers and healthcare professionals, tailored support groups, and reduced isolation.

The studentship offers a tax-free bursary of £20,407 for three years, a fee-waiver for four years, a project budget, IT equipment, and access to Doctoral School facilities. The supervisory team includes Professor Elizabeth Hughes (Director of Rural Mental Health Research Unit and NIHR THRIVE Programme lead) and Dr Molly Miley (Research Fellow, THRIVE Programme). The University of Worcester is committed to widening participation and welcomes applicants with relevant professional qualifications and work-related experience, in addition to those with a Masters in Health Care or equivalent and a First or Upper Second Honours Degree.

Research students at Worcester benefit from a comprehensive Researcher Development Programme, student-led conferences and seminars, and dedicated support. The closing date for applications is 8 May 2026. For further information or informal discussion, contact Professor Elizabeth Hughes by email. To apply, visit the project webpage and click ‘apply now’.

References supporting the project include recent studies on carer experiences and rural mental health, highlighting the importance of this research for improving support and outcomes for unpaid carers in rural communities.