معرفی
Dr. Edel Ennis is a Senior Lecturer in Psychology at Ulster University's School of Psychology, based at the Coleraine campus. She teaches undergraduate courses (B.Sc. Psychology) and postgraduate programs (M.Sc. Psychology Conversion Course), specializing in Individual Differences and Psychology of Mental Health. She holds a Senior Fellowship with the Higher Education Authority (SFHEA) and contributes to international summer schools on digital mental health ethics.
Her research focuses on three interconnected domains: (i) mental health (especially university student populations), (ii) suicide prevention strategies, and (iii) digital mental health innovations. She leads interdisciplinary projects including:
- 'ChatPal': A multilingual chatbot for mental well-being in rural communities
- 'Our Generation': Resilience-building interventions for youth
- 'YEW': Professional support systems for Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners
Her publications predominantly explore digital interventions, barriers to mental healthcare, and cross-cultural studies of student well-being, using methodologies ranging from clinical trials to large-scale WHO surveys.
Notable recognitions include:
- 2020 Ulster University Research Excellence Award (Public Sector Partnership)
- 2024 Outstanding Interdisciplinary Research Team Award
- 2025 Best Journal Paper Award (ACM Transactions on Computing for Healthcare)
She supervises PhD candidates investigating chatbot efficacy, ADHD interventions, and mental health analytics. Current supervisees include Gillian Cameron (chatbot analysis) and Martin Gallen (student mental health). Administrative roles include Wellbeing Champion and Ulster Research Ethics Committee membership.
Her team collaborations span Ulster's School of Computing, Pneuma Healthcare, and Samaritans, contributing to policy changes in Northern Ireland's mental health services.
