Rachel Abbott

Rachel Abbott is a Principal Lecturer and Senior Lecturer in Psychology at Sheffield Hallam University, affiliated with the Sheffield Institute of Social Sciences and the Centre for Behavioural Science and Applied Psychology. She holds a BA and PhD in Psychology, a Certificate in Higher Education, and is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. Her roles include Academic Workplanner and Psychology Group Leader, overseeing workload management and staff development.

• Roles: Academic Workplanner, Group Leader in Psychology
• Education: BA, PhD (Psychology), Cert. Ed. (HE)

Research focuses on death, dying, and suicide bereavement using discursive approaches, rail suicide consequences, and life transitions like baby-led weaning and heteronormative education practices. Recent studies include disenfranchised grief in educators and rail worker safety perceptions. Earlier work explored suicide risk factors and railway suicide impacts through the SOVRN Project.

Publications highlight themes such as mental health epidemiology, qualitative family studies, and LGBTQ+ education challenges. Awards include her FHEA fellowship. She supervises postgraduate research and has led interdisciplinary collaborations on suicide prevention and rail safety.

Her management roles ensure equitable teaching practices and staff development. She contributes to the Centre for Behavioural Science and Applied Psychology, fostering applied research in social sciences.