Gary Shepherd

Dr. Gary Shepherd is a Senior Lecturer in Counselling and Mental Health at York St John University's School of Education, Language and Psychology. He serves as Research Lead and Departmental Unit of Assessment Lead (UoA3) within his department. His academic journey includes an MBA, MRes, and PhD in Management from Hull University, complemented by professional training in Transactional Analysis counselling.

Shepherd's educational background reflects an interdisciplinary approach, transitioning from business management to mental health counselling. His PhD in Management from Hull University Business School provided the foundation for his later specialization in therapeutic practices. This unique combination of business and counselling expertise informs his distinctive research perspective on mental health interventions.

Dr. Shepherd's primary research focus centers on male suicide prevention and the role of male-centric community groups in reducing suicide rates through challenging hegemonic masculinity. His work investigates how traditional masculine norms create barriers to mental health support and how community-based interventions can effectively address these challenges. His research combines qualitative analysis of men's experiences with practical community program development, particularly focusing on anger management and mindfulness approaches tailored for men.

His publication record demonstrates a consistent trajectory toward understanding men's mental health needs, with recent work examining innovative approaches like men's mental health podcasts and community-based 'Menfulness' programs. Shepherd's research increasingly emphasizes participatory methods, working directly with charities and community organizations to co-design effective suicide prevention strategies.

• Principal Investigator for York St John Institute of Social Justice funded £10,000 Communities Research Grant 'Menfulness Evaluation Project'
• PI on £7,000 follow-on Menfulness Evaluation Project
• Secured £95,000 grant funding through the Humber & North Yorkshire ICB Health Inequalities fund 2024/25

As an educator, Shepherd supervises PhD students and leads a summer school research program where undergraduate, postgraduate students, and teaching colleagues collaborate on research projects leading to academic publication. His teaching spans both undergraduate Counselling and Mental Health programs and postgraduate Humanistic Counselling MA, with responsibilities including Research Methods, Dissertation supervision, and specialized modules on Professional Practice and therapeutic approaches.