“As researchers, we are ‘keepers of stories’ but sometimes that role is painful.”

Our final presentation by Associate Professor Theresa Redmond and Abbie Lake discussed the importance of researcher well-being, especially when dealing with sensitive and potentially traumatic topics like sexual violence. The presentation emphasized the impact of researching sensitive topics, underlined emotional and intellectual harm that researchers may experience, but also acknowledged that it is a normal part of the research process.

Survey findings were briefly presented, indicating that both staff and students conducting sensitive research experience feelings of anxiety and distress, but also a strong motivation to continue their work. Some researchers are already recognising the importance of looking after their well-being, engaging in self-care, and adopting coping strategies. However, the shortcomings of existing support systems and barriers researchers face in accessing help were also noticed, implying the need for more awareness, tailored support mechanisms, access to specialised counselling, and training for handling sensitive fieldwork and data analysis.

The presentation concludes by outlining initiatives-The Sexual Violence Researchers Group (SVRG) which aimed at addressing researcher well-being. These include facilitated peer support sharing circles, webinars on research and a podcast series. These initiatives are designed to create safe spaces, share experiences, and contribute to a culture that prioritizes the mental health and safety of researchers engaged in challenging but impactful work.

In the Q&A section, many attendants expressed the same need for understanding and support rather than questioning researchers’ capabilities. The hope is that experiences will change, and the importance of the challenging yet crucial work researchers undertake will be acknowledged.

Blog author: Sitian Chen