Sharon McDonnell

Background

About Sharon McDonnell

I conduct suicide bereavement research, develop evidence-based training, provide consultancy in this field and host an annual international suicide bereavement conference. My team developed PABBS evidence-based suicide bereavement training, informed by a three year study, funded by NIHR and first of its kind internationally. I have specialised in suicide bereavement research for 18 years and recognised as one of the leaders in this field, both nationally and internationally. Prior to setting up Suicide Bereavement UK, Sharon worked at the Centre for Mental Health and Safety at the University of Manchester, which is the largest suicide prevention research department internationally. Sharon’s research has been referred to in three parliamentary debates (Hansard, 2012, 2015 and 2017) with Ministers being advised to read her research and consider her views on how those bereaved by suicide should be cared for. She has been a member of the Public Health England advisory group involved in the revised handbook ‘Help is at Hand: Support After Someone May Have Died by Suicide’ (PHE, 2015) and the ‘Support after Suicide: A Guide to providing Local Services’ document (PHE, 2016). Sharon has received several awards for public engagement in this field. She is currently PI on the national suicide bereavement survey, which is being conducted at the University of Manchester in collaboration with Support After Suicide Partnership.