In this week's episode, I speak with Dr. Nicola Byrom, a Senior Lecturer in Psychology at King’s College London. We discuss the importance of lived experience in research as well as collaborative research for student mental health. Dr Byrom shares how she founded Student Minds, the UK's biggest mental health charity, and how her personal experience drove her to want change in the higher education sector. We also discuss virtual learning environments both for on-campus and distance learner students and the medicalizing of distress.  About Dr. Nicola Byrom Dr. Byrom is a Senior Lecturer in Psychology at King’s College London. She studies mental health and wellbeing in emerging adulthood with a focus on public health and exploring the institutional, social, and cultural factors that shape individual mental health. Prior to developing her research career, Dr Byrom founded Student Minds, the UK’s student mental health charity. She completed her DPhil at the University of Oxford, and was awarded an MRC Centenary Award to further develop her work. Website: https://kclpure.kcl.ac.uk/portal/en/persons/nicola.byrom Twitter: https://x.com/NicolaByrom?s=20 Research Paper: https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/13/7/749 About Host: Seiara Imanova is the host and producer of Behind the Stigma Podcast. She has a Master of Science in Psychology & Neuroscience  of Mental Health from King's College London. She started "Behind the Stigma" to make a meaningful contribution in the field, by providing awareness for a variety of perspectives within each topic. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behindthestigmapodcast/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/seiara_imanova