Nathalie Noret, Lecturer in Mental Health and Wellbeing in Education
Nathalie is a developmental psychologist who leads the ‘Thoughts and Feelings About Bullying’ research group.
Her research interests focus on exploring young people’s experiences of bullying.
email: nathalie.noret@york.ac.uk
Our 60-second interview with Nathalie:
Could you please tell us what work you do in the field of mental health?
My research interests focus on the relationship between bullying and poor mental health, and understanding factors that play a role in explaining this relationship. I examine the impact of different roles in bullying (victimisation or being a bystander) on poor mental health. Alongside and underpinned by theories of stress, I examine how young people’s appraisals (their evaluations) of their experiences play a role in the relationship between bullying and poor mental health. A further strand of my work examines bullying as a traumatic experience and examines how trauma-informed approaches can be adapted to support children and young people experiencing bullying in school.
What do you find most rewarding and inspiring in this work?
Being able to collaborate with charities and people who work in anti-bullying is a really rewarding experience and something that gives me a real sense of achievement.
What is the most challenging or complicated aspect of this work?
Examining bullying experiences can pose some significant ethical challenges. We aim to have supportive and safe discussions with young people without causing them distress, and at times, this can be difficult. It’s also difficult for us as researchers to hear the stories of young people who are being bullied and the negative impact it is having on their mental health. While it can be challenging to hear these stories, it’s important we give a voice to these experiences to highlight the negative impact of bullying behaviour.
What impact do you hope your work is having - or can potentially have?
As a group, we’re in a privileged position to have some really good relationships with national anti-bullying charities. Through these relationships, we’re able to share our research work with the long-term aim of informing policy and practice.
Could you share with us one piece of advice that you follow for your own mental health?
We all face challenges in life that can impact on our own mental health, and I know I find it helpful to consider the challenges I’ve faced in the past and how these have been overcome. It’s helpful to remember that difficult times do pass, and it’s a sign of real strength to reach out to others for help and support.