Project Staff
Outi Benson has worked at the research department at SANE since 2005. Her current post is Research Manager. Since graduating from University of London (Birkbeck College) with an MPhil in Philosophy, she has worked in the area of mental health research. Her main focus is on the subjective experience of mental health problems and how service user insights can be combined with philosophical theory and used to inform the science of psychopathology and care development.
She has one foot in London and the other foot in Oxford, where she lives with her partner Tom, baby son Oskar, and their two cats, Kissa and Bea. And the numerous other creatures the cats dragged in.
Susanne Gibson has been a member of the research department at SANE since the beginning of 2010. She has a PhD in Philosophy from Cardiff University and before joining SANE she worked as a teacher and researcher in higher education, with a special interest in medical and professional ethics. Her interest in mental health is informed both by her academic background and by her experience of working as a volunteer counsellor for RELATE.
Susanne has recently moved to London from the north-west of England and is looking forward to spending some of her free time visiting her favourite galleries.
Sarah Brand joined the SANE research team in January 2010 after spending a few years working and travelling abroad. Sarah is dedicated to furthering knowledge of first-hand experiences of mental health difficulties and to challenging stigma and increasing compassion towards people who face the challenges of mental ill health.
Sarah completed a PhD in Cognitive Psychology at UCL in 2007 and has worked as a researcher at Great Ormond Street Hospital, the Institute of Child Health, and Melbourne University. Her academic interests include: the effects of mindfulness on wellbeing; suicidal behaviour; first-hand experiences of mental health related issues, and the cognitive psychology of attention and memory.
Sarah spends her free time hiking, painting, reading, learning about nature, and seeing friends and family (which often involves subjecting them to her home cooking!) Sarah has a strong interest in Buddhist philosophy and mindfulness meditation. She also likes to get out of London most weekends and can be spotted tramping across the English countryside through all manner of weather conditions.
Gareth Owen joined the SANE research team in June 2011 to work on the 'New focus for suicide prevention' study. He is based at the Peninsula College of Medicine at the University of Exeter where he is a member of the mental health research group. Gareth is currently involved in projects investigating public involvement in suicide prevention; recognising the early signs of dementia; and the experience of ageing with HIV.
Before completing a PhD in sociology, Gareth worked for many years as a medical social worker in London, where he particularly specialised in HIV/AIDS and end of life care. His research interests include the sociology of emotions; interpersonal interaction; gender and sexualities; and the lived experience of health and illness.
Dividing his time between London and a little cabin on Dartmoor, Gareth likes to spend his free time travelling and walking across the moors with his dog called Bess.