Projects per year
Personal profile
Research Interests
I'm currently the Director of the Centre for Technological Innovation in Mental Health and Education (TIME Centre) within QUB. My main areas of interest include the use of immersive and digital technologies, such as Virtual Reality and 360 video to support therapeutic practice as well as support the training health and social care professionals. I also have an interest in cognitive behavioural therapy and the treatment of conditions, such as PTSD, Social Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder and Depression. I've recently co-developed a new approach to participatory analysis of qualiative data (known as Participatory Theme Elicitation) and welcome applications for PhD or MSc study in any of the areas listed above.
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Recent external collaboration on country/territory level. Dive into details by clicking on the dots or
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R1315SES: Immersive 360 video for PTSD Treatment
Best, P. (PI) & Taylor-Beswick, A. (CoI)
21/01/2020 → …
Project: Research
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R3831SES: A Translational case study of empowerment into practice: A realist evaluation of the Dementia NI Ser
Best, P. (PI), Donnelly, M. (CoI), McCorry, N. (CoI) & Sturm, T. (CoI)
16/11/2016 → …
Project: Research
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R1494PSY: Mood Movement: Exploring the ability of existing and emerging technologies to promote and support Young Peoples Mental Health
Armour, C. (PI), Berry, E. (CoI), Best, P. (CoI) & Rainer, A. (CoI)
02/12/2020 → 23/05/2022
Project: Research
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R3217SES: The implementation of group based support in Cambodia for mental health: A comparison between online and face-to-face delivery
Best, P. (PI), Armour, C. (CoI), Maddock, A. (CoI) & Montgomery, L. (CoI)
14/09/2020 → 31/12/2021
Project: Research
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R1019SES: Virtual reality and immersive technology to support health and social care professional training
Best, P. (PI), Campbell, A. (CoI), Davidson, G. (CoI), Galway, K. (CoI), Maddock, A. (CoI), Montgomery, L. (CoI), Schroeder, F. (CoI) & Van Walstijn, M. (CoI)
05/02/2019 → 30/11/2019
Project: Research
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Developing virtual reality environments for trauma focused cognitive behavioural therapy in clinical routine settings: an open-label case- series study
Cushnan, J., Best, P., Van Daele, T., D'Arcy, J., McCafferty, P., Roche, R. & Elliott, A., 21 Aug 2025, (Early online date) In: Cognitive and Behavioral Practice.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
Online mental health peer support: a systematic scoping review of theoretical mechanisms of effect
Yuan, S., Davidson, G. & Best, P., 26 Sept 2025, In: BMC Digital Health. 3, 13 p., 68.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile25 Downloads (Pure) -
School-based mental health interventions: a feasibility study of the R.E.A.C.T programme
Neill, R. D., Lloyd, K., Best, P. & Tully, M. A., 03 Jan 2025, (Early online date) In: Irish Educational Studies.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile101 Downloads (Pure) -
The effects of a task shifted multi-component mental health intervention to support prosthetic and orthotic service users in Cambodia: a non-randomised controlled study
Maddock, A., Heang, T., Ean, N., Kheng, S., Best, P. & Ramstrand , N., 21 Aug 2025, In: International Journal of Mental Health Systems. 19, 11 p., 28.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile3 Downloads (Pure) -
Typology of online mental health peer support for young people: a systematic scoping review
Yuan, S., Davidson, G. & Best, P., Jan 2026, In: Children and Youth Services Review. 180, 13 p., 108662.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile1 Downloads (Pure)
Prizes
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1st Prize - Best Poster Presentation at Marie Curie Research Conference 2022
Gibson, I. (Recipient), Roulston, A. (Recipient), Rebelo, P. (Recipient), Best, P. (Recipient) & McConnell, T. (Recipient), 04 Feb 2022
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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Best Oral Presentation. Learning together is better: Students’ perceptions of a novel interprofessional simulation activity.
McCormick, M. (Recipient), Hughes, C. (Recipient), Murray, C. (Recipient), Quee, G. (Recipient), Rice, B. (Recipient), Best, P. (Recipient) & Girvin, B. (Recipient), 06 Sept 2024
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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Engaged Research Seed Award
Best, P. (Recipient), McCafferty, P. (Recipient) & Meireles, M. (Recipient), 31 May 2019
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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ESRC Business Boost Award
Best, P. (Recipient), 01 Apr 2019
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
Activities
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Virtual Reality Training for Classroom Assistants: A Proof-of-Concept Study for Enhancing Mental health awareness in Educational Settings.
Booth, N. (Contributor) & Best, P. (Contributor)
22 May 2025Activity: Talk or presentation types › Oral presentation
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Brave New Care: The Digital Evolution of Social Work Cultures and Capabilities
Birch, M. (Lecturer) & Best, P. (Organiser)
10 Mar 2025Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited talk
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Role of Digital Technology in Student Mental Health
Best, P. (Keynote speaker)
21 Nov 2024Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited or keynote talk at national or international conference
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BMC Public Health (Journal)
Best, P. (Associate editor)
01 Oct 2024Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work types › Editorial activity
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Project: Virtual Intelligent Training and Adaptive Learning (VITAL) Project
Best, P. (Chair), Stockdale, J. (Contributor), Birch, M. (Contributor), Roche, R. (Contributor), Thomas, C. (Contributor), Booth, N. (Contributor), Marshall, G. (Contributor), Ronis, S. (Contributor), Lee, H.-C. (Contributor) & Liao, F. (Contributor)
19 Aug 2024 → …Activity: Other activity types › Other
Press/Media
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Wall Street Journal Article: The Future of VR for Mental Health
08/04/2023
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Expert Comment
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Impacts
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Adapting digital social prescribing for suicide bereavement support
Galway, K. (Participant), Mallon, S. (Participant), Best, P. (Participant) & Santin, O. (Participant)
Impact: Public Policy Impact
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Building an Immersive Technologies and Digital Mental Health Lab
Best, P. (Participant)
Impact: Other Impact
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