Safeguarding Mental Health in User and Market Research

Learn how to safeguard the mental health of participants, researchers, and stakeholders across every stage of the research process, to legally and ethically protect people and your organisation,

In today’s volatile climate, researchers, stakeholders and participants alike are experiencing unprecedented pressures: a global cost of living crisis, workplace burnout, loneliness, political instability, and the lingering impacts of COVID isolation. Mental health challenges are on the rise, and those in the research process face unique risks- from empathy fatigue, volatile participants and re-traumatisation, to vicarious trauma, moral injury and burn out.

This one-day course provides practical knowledge and tools to safeguard mental health throughout the research lifecycle- from study design, recruitment, and facilitation, to analysis, communication, and sharing findings. You’ll explore adaptations for qualitative and quantitative research, learn mental health–informed specific methods, and how to apply them in both human led and AI-enabled contexts. You’ll also gain guidance on safeguarding for colleagues with existing mental health conditions, and learn how to build a compelling business case for HR and legal teams to make sure necessary changes are taken seriously in your organisation. By the end, you’ll be equipped to protect researchers, participants and stakeholders, support your team, and strengthen your organisation’s resilience.

Learning outcomes/learning objectives

• Understand the spectrum of mental health risks researchers, participants and stakeholders face through the process- actual and perceived threats of physical, psychological and emotional harm and moral injury; vicarious trauma and re-traumatisation; stress, burn out and empathy fatigue; mental health conditions in the workplace.
• Integrate mental health safeguarding into all stages of the research funnel
• Apply trauma-informed and mental health-informed methods and adaptations to research workflows
• Recognise and mitigate risks such as retraumatisation, moral injury, empathy fatigue and vicarious trauma
• Navigate ethical and legal responsibilities to avoid negligence and compliance breaches
• Develop a business case to secure HR and legal support for implementing safeguarding practices
• Adapt safeguarding practices for AI-driven and digital research environments
  
  

Who will benefit?

This course is designed for qualitative and quantitative researchers, user researchers, strategists, planners, research and design ops specialists, and anyone conducting research inside or outside dedicated research teams. Suitable for professionals at all levels, across all sectors.

Learning method

A mix of knowledge sharing, practical scenarios, group discussions, and case-based exercises.

Course delivery mode

Online or in-person (one day).

Trainer biography

Jem is a mixed-methods market and user researcher, and data science practitioner with over 20 years of experience working at the intersection of consumer insight, design, product, marketing, and cultural research. Her work focuses on how technology can empower minority global communities, with a strong emphasis on trauma-informed practice and safeguarding in complex trust and safety contexts.

She has led global research at organisations such as the BBC, Etsy, and Bumble, as well as in her own consultancy, where her projects have delivered both significant business results and meaningful societal impact. From rebrands and creative direction, to reshaping product roadmaps, to informing government and economic policy, Jem’s research consistently drives real-world change. As a leader, she has built and transformed sizeable insight teams, embedding the voice of the customer into company culture and decision-making.

Alongside her industry work, Jem curates educational content for Rosenfeld Media, supporting a global community of over 12,000 researchers. She is also co-founder of Quukoo, a mental health and wellbeing startup that combines indigenous and non-Western practices with neuroscience, psychology, and Western medicine to create holistic frameworks for healing.

Jem holds a Master’s in Law from Cambridge, and is currently pursuing qualifications in somatic psychology as well as a PhD in adult online harms. A poet, painter, and queer, working-class British Pakistani, she blends academic rigour with creativity and an intersectional perspective, ensuring her research and leadership remain both innovative and inclusive.