The Open University

Report charts mental health and wellbeing of emergency responders

24 July 2020

The mental health of emergency responders (ER) could be improved by better integration of wellbeing support into organisations, sharing of “best practice”, a single gateway to help navigate support services, and greater consideration of families’ needs, according to a new report by The Open University and King’s College London researchers. The work was funded by […]

I’ve been talking to conspiracy theorists for 20 years – here are my six rules of engagement

22 July 2020

Jovan Byford, Senior Lecturer in Psychology at The Open University discusses the rules he uses for talking about conspiracy theories. With prospects of a COVID-19 vaccine looking up, attention is also turning to the problem of anti-vax ideas. According to a recent survey, one in six Britons would refuse a COVID-19 vaccine when it becomes […]

Pregnant woman, holding in hands bouquet of daisy. Image credit: Thinkstock

Perinatal anxiety: one in five women experience it – but many still suffer alone before or after childbirth

24 March 2020

Becoming a parent is usually celebrated as a happy time. But it can often be stressful and overwhelming, too. While some anxiety at this time is normal, around one in five women may experience something called perinatal anxiety during their pregnancy through the first year after giving birth. This condition is characterised by high levels […]

Alone together – Mothering Sunday in the times of COVID-19

22 March 2020

In this piece psychology academics, including The Open University’s Dr Lisa Lazard and Dr Rose Capdevila look at how despite the social isolation brought about by the coronavirus, there are positive ways that people can think about connecting on social media with their mothers and loved ones on Mothering Sunday but also some of the […]

How to spot a conspiracy theory when you see one

16 March 2020

Dr Jovan Byford, Head of Discipline & Senior Lecturer in Psychology at The Open University writes for The Conversation about spotting a conspiracy theory. Anyone who engages critically with the phenomenon of conspiracy theories soon encounters a conundrum. Actual conspiracies occur quite regularly. Political assassinations, scandals and cover-ups, terrorist attacks and a lot of everyday […]

“I’ve just graduated at 40 and feel that the world has become more open to me”

11 December 2019

Twenty-two years ago, Rebecca Bungay, 40, started her journey to higher education like most students, but found the road well-travelled was not for her and left university after only six weeks. Years later, determined to achieve her lifelong goal, Rebecca embarked on a degree course with the OU. Last month, Rebecca received her degree in […]

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To say the OU changed my life is an understatement

11 November 2019

OU student David Breakspear had been in the criminal justice system since he was a child. Determined to break the cycle, he began studying during his sentence and is now an active and passionate campaigner for criminal justice and social reform, using his experiences to help inspire and educate others. As one of the speakers […]

‘Studying has helped me to better understand how my mind works’

2 October 2019

In 2014, Liz suffered a breakdown that grounded her life to a halt – she struggled to leave the house, and completing everyday tasks became impossible. Support from friends, counselling and baking helped ease the symptoms of anxiety. Liz went on to build her cake-making into a business, and today BuBakes has featured in numerous magazines […]

“Current mobile phone laws are outdated”

13 August 2019

Tougher restrictions on driving while using a mobile phone and stricter enforcement of the law could prevent deaths and serious injuries from related crashes on the roads, says new House of Commons report. In Road Safety: driving while using a mobile phone, the Transport Committee says the evidence is clear: using a mobile phone while […]