Outstanding Achievement for Emma Bailey

Former student, Emma Bailey tells us of her outstanding achievement!

“I have recently received a Distinction in my MSc in Health Psychology, from Liverpool John Moores University. My course centred around understanding how physical and emotional factors influence health and illness. Psychology can have profound impacts on health and illness behaviour, studying topics such as the design and evaluation of complex interventions to improve health, and psychosocial factors in health. I applied this knowledge to a variety of long-term conditions, e.g. cancer, chronic pain, diabetes and coronary heart disease. Likewise, I was able to explore the legalities of health psychology, exploring the analysis and improvement of global health care systems and health policy formation.

“Throughout this year, I was able to specialise in a certain area of health psychology, to form my Masters thesis. I chose to focus on maternal mental health, centring my work around birth trauma. After a year of research, I completed my thesis, entitled ‘The Birth Trauma Earthquake: A Qualitative Investigation of First-Time Mothers Who Perceived Their Birth as Traumatic’. This work placed a specific focus on the experiences of women from minority ethnic backgrounds, and Appraising birth as traumatic has physical and emotional consequences for the women who experience it, as well as those around them. My research calls for maternity care that is comprehensive and compassionate to support these women at a time of vulnerability, fostering resilience in the aftermath of the earthquake.

“Following this year, I am currently working as a Visiting Research Assistant at Kings College London, within their Department for Women’s and Children’s Health. I am in the process of applying for PhD funding to continue my work in perinatal mental health.”