Meet our Doncaster Embedded Researchers: Richard Gettings
July sees the arrival of two new researchers to the AWRC. Richard Gettings and Lorna Dowrick are working as embedded researchers on the NIHR-funded Doncaster Health Determinants of Research collaboration, which aims to develop research skills, processes and capacity within Doncaster Council to ensure policy decisions relating to health inequalities are informed, fair and evidence-based.
Today, we will meet Richard and hear a little about his background and what he brings to the collaboration.
Hi, Richard! Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your professional and academic background?
I was a police officer in Hong Kong and the UK for 22 years, primarily in CID and drug policing. During this time, I was injured at work, diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and forced to take medical retirement.
Having been supported by a military charity that specialised in PTSD and combat stress, I founded The Daparian Foundation; a veteran and bluelight PTSD research and awareness community that utilises collective lived experiences to research, raise awareness and campaign for necessary change for those who live with PTSD.
After leaving the police, I went to Sheffield Hallam as a mature student and obtained a Maths and Teaching degree, followed by a Psychology Masters. I have recently worked with Northumbria University on two Armed Forces Covenant-funded, veteran PTSD and suicide research studies.
These studies designed lived experience-based interventions to mitigate veteran PTSD loneliness and support those bereaved from military and veteran suicide. Reports for these studies should be published very soon.
What attracted you to the embedded researcher role?
I have a passion for lived experience research and applied research that is carried out to make a real difference to people’s lives. The Embedded Researcher role exemplifies the potential of lived experience working by putting the community affected by the issue central to the solution.
I believe, also, that I can transfer my recent experiences and networks from working on the veteran and military studies over to the Embedded Researcher role, applying these to the understanding the respective trauma journey of those to be helped in this new role.
Working at the pioneering research facilities at the AWRC alongside passionate people who really want to help others will be a privilege, and if I can contribute to the pioneering research being carried out myself then I hope my journey will have a very positive destination.
I am most looking forward to working within a team of academics who are passionate about utilising research to genuinely change people’s lives for the better. Research – especially that which is based upon lived experience – has such a power to make a difference, especially within the context of the fantastic and pioneering facilities at the AWRC.
By utilising my experiences in such a positive fashion I am defining my own trauma journey positively and proactively. Being part of such a pioneering study will give me new challenges, direction and validation
And finally, just for fun – tell us a fun fact about yourself
I can do a 15 minute plank – not bad for a 56-year-old who weighs about 105 Kg… This isn’t such a fun fact when I’m doing it though! The fact that I can hold it this long is more a testament of how stubborn a person I am I think…
Thank you for taking the time to chat with us Richard, and welcome to the team!
Richard founded and runs the The Daparian Foundation which raises awareness of all things that relate to trauma, PTSD and how different communities can work together. Follow them on Twitter