Health and wellbeing
The Churchill Fellowship
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Health and wellbeing

About this theme

This theme covers all aspects of physical and mental health and their research and protection. It is one of the eight universal themes which form our grantmaking framework and allow us to address every aspect of society. Fellows’ stories

Blogs & conversations Improving care for those living and dying at society’s margins

Palliative care doctor Shaun Qureshi explores how the field can rekindle its original, radical spirit by addressing the inequities faced by marginalised people who remain under-served in current practice. His Churchill Fellowship took him to the USA and Canada, where he learned from centres of care for excluded groups and saw how trauma-informed, social justice, and inclusive approaches can be embedded into everyday work. His report sets out practical recommendations for building a system where everyone can access the palliative and end-of-life care they need.

By Shaun Peter Qureshi, 2025

Blogs & conversations “Kindness and Goodwill”: Developing Postvention in Prison

With self-inflicted deaths in prisons remaining consistently high, Piers Barber set out to explore how prisons can respond with stronger postvention – systematic aftercare following a suicide. His Fellowship took him to New Zealand, Australia, and Canada, where he saw examples such as the embedded role of chaplains in New Zealand prisons, new trials in Australia, and trauma training models for staff in Canada. He is now sharing his reflections with UK practitioners and policymakers, calling for leadership, mapping of all contact points, and varied support to strengthen suicide prevention in custody.

By Piers Barber, 2025

Blogs & conversations Scaling Suicide Prevention: Lessons for the UK from India, the USA, and Canada

In memory of his friend Olly, who died by suicide in 2017, Rory Keddie set out to explore how medical students can be better prepared to support people in crisis. His Fellowship took him to India, the USA, and Canada, where he learned from innovative approaches using technology, policy change, and university frameworks. Building on his work with the Dr SAMS project, which has already trained over 2,800 UK medical students, Rory is now working to expand training and engage policymakers so suicide prevention becomes a core part of every doctor’s education.

By Rory Keddie, 2025

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