Dr Gearoid Brennan

Gearóid was appointed as a Lecturer in mental health nursing in August 2021. He is a clinical academic, splitting his time between the University of Stirling and NHS Lothian, where he practices as a nurse specialist in Liaison Psychiatry.

He is a graduate of the National University of Ireland Maynooth, having read for a double honours degree in English and German. He subsequently completed his pre-registration Mental Health nursing degree at Edinburgh Napier University, where he was awarded the university medal on graduating for outstanding achievement.

He completed the Master of Nursing in Clinical Research at the University of Edinburgh. This was an innovative programme aimed at increasing the number of research-active nurses. As such, it was funded by the Scottish Government's Chief Nursing Officer’s Directorate. His master’s dissertation was awarded with distinction.

Gearóid returned to Nursing Studies at the University of Edinburgh in 2016 to begin a PhD. He held one of the university’s Principal’s Career Development Scholarship which allowed him to focus on academic teaching whilst completing doctoral studies. His PhD project was a qualitative study that focused on the role of the mental health nurse in addressing the physical health needs of people with serious mental illness. He drew on the writings of Pierre Bourdieu and his Theory of Practice to help position the study.

Prior to his appointment at Stirling, he was a Clinical Fellow within Nursing Studies at the University of Edinburgh, where he taught across the BN (Hons) and MSc programmes. He had a lead role in the development and teaching of the mental health components on the BN (Hons) programme leading to adult registration with the NMC. He also taught communication skills, research methods and clinical skills.

Gearóid tries to align his research, clinical and educational interests and is always keen to collaborate with other disciplines. He has post-registration clinical experience in child and adolescent mental health (CAMHS) and general adult services. He works clinically as a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Liaison Psychiatry within NHS Lothian's Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh. His main research interest is in meeting the physical health needs of people with serious mental illness and more broadly, the intersection between physical and mental health. He has a keen interest in qualitative methods, the social sciences, self-harm, solution-focused brief therapy, interpersonal psychotherapy and acute psychiatric care research as well as some of the ethical issues inherent in research.

He is a Florence Nightingale Foundation Scholar and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

Qualifications:
Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice (Higher Education), University of Edinburgh
Doctor of Philosophy (Nursing Studies), University of Edinburgh
Master of Nursing, University of Edinburgh
Bachelor of Nursing (Mental Health), Edinburgh Napier University
Bachelor of Arts (Hons.), National University of Ireland Maynooth

Physical healthcare needs of people with serious mental illness
Intersection between physical and mental health
Mental health needs in non-mental health settings
Research ethics
Structural and organisational factors in healthcare delivery
Health inequalities

Clinical skills
Physical health skills for mental health nurses
Simulation
Development of non-technical skills
Interprofessional learning