School of Social & Political Sciences

Dr Cassandra Lovelock

  • Lecturer in Qualitative Methods and Inequality (Sociological & Cultural Studies)

Research interests

My main research interests lie in qualitative invesitgations of the intersections of poverty, mental illness, and 'care' incluing unpaid care, state care, and wider definitions of 'caring'. I am also interested in ethical ways of co-producing knowledge and knowledge equity among communities that are disempowered within mental health, social care, and welfare services in the UK. 

These interets have led to a focus on inequalities within mental health and social care services in the UK, particularly considering the experiences of racialised communities and disbaled and neurodivergent communities. 

Research groups

Publications

Prior publications

Article

Rick Burgess et al. (2026) Exploring the value of lived experience in a mental health research centre Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology Cassandra Lovelock. ISSN 1433-9285 (doi: 10.1007/s00127-026-03167-4)

Anna Greenburgh et al. (2026) What works for whom: a systematic review of inequalities in inclusion and effectiveness of social interventions for mental ill- health Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology Cassandra Lovelock. ISSN 1433-9285 (doi: 10.1007/s00127-025-02984-3)

Annie Irvine, Cassandra Lovelock (2025) More than a mental health issue: broadening the concept of ‘work capability’ through qualitative secondary analysis of claimant narratives Journal of Poverty and Social Justice Cassandra Lovelock. ISSN 1759-8281 (doi: 10.1332/17598273y2025d000000047)

Helen Baldwin et al. (2025) Targeted interventions to improve the social and economic circumstances of people with mental ill-health from marginalised communities: a systematic review Psychological Medicine Cassandra Lovelock. ISSN 1469-8978 (doi: 10.1017/s0033291725101128)

Sophia Davis, Vanessa Pinfold, Jessica Catchpole, Cassandra Lovelock, Bibi Senthi, Alex Kenny (2024) Reporting lived experience work The Lancet Psychiatry Cassandra Lovelock. ISSN 2215-0366 (doi: 10.1016/s2215-0366(23)00402-9)

Cassandra Lovelock (2023) Are you borderline or did you grow up without a racial identity? Black mixed-race identity disturbance and an unstable sense of self Journal of Psychosocial Studies Cassandra Lovelock. ISSN 1478-6737 (doi: 10.1332/147867321x16869242475575)

Book Section

Cassandra Lovelock (2022) Disability Discourse Stuck in a Black/White Binary Redefining Disability Cassandra Lovelock. ISBN 9789004512696 (doi: 10.1163/9789004512702_005)

Grants

My Research is funded by: 

  • The Economic Social Research Council (ESRC) 
  • The Wellcome & Wellcome Collection 
  • NIHR School for Social Care Research 
  • Third Sector Organisations

Supervision

I currently supervise postgraduate students and welcome enquires from potential PhD Students and undergraduate students. 

I am interested in supervision in the the following areas: unpaid carers, care experienced young people, critical appraoches to mental health and neurodivergence, lived experience led projects, and qualitative and creative methodologies. 

Additional information

Lancet Psychaitry Lived Experience Board Member 

Associate Lecturer at the Service User Research Enterprise

Lived Experience Advisory Board at the Centre for Society and Mental Health