Ellie Thompson
Research Associate (Qualitative)
Profile
Biography
Ellie joined the University of York in 2025 and currently works as a qualitative Research Associate on the AMICABLE project within the Mental Health and Addiction Research Group (MHARG), conducting process evaluations of the peer-led problem support mentoring scheme, a mental health intervention for offending populations. Alongside this, Ellie is also undertaking a Doctorate in Health Psychology.
Ellie completed her BSc in Psychology and MSc in Health Psychology at Manchester Metropolitan University. During this time, Ellie worked in various care roles across the NHS and in residential and community settings. This has driven her to pursue a career in tackling inequalities of access and delivery of healthcare services.
In 2022, Ellie joined the University of Manchester as a research assistant on a large-scale, mixed methods NIHR-funded study led by Professor Jenny Shaw, investigating avoidable harm in English prison healthcare. In addition to her core research role, Ellie contributed to several other high-impact projects concerning mental health, prison care, and self-harm and suicide prevention, including the National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Safety in Mental Health (NCISH).
Ellie later used qualitative methods in leading a service evaluation on the PROSPECT study, a randomised controlled trial led by Professor Dan Pratt, evaluating a psychological intervention which uses adapted cognitive behavioural therapy (CBSP) for self-harm and suicide prevention among male prisoners. During her time at Manchester, Ellie was involved with internal qualitative research groups, and collaborated with the Suicide, Risk and Safety Research Unit—a joint initiative between Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Manchester. These experiences further deepened her expertise in mental health, suicide prevention, and prison healthcare.
Qualifications
- BSc Psychology
- MSc Health Psychology
Research
Overview
Ellie's research interest include exploring and reducing healthcare inequalities to improve health promotion and service provision.
Projects
- AMICABLE: This project aims to develop and evaluate a peer-led problem support mentor scheme to improve mental health and well-being in prison
Research group(s)
