David Pilgrim

David has spent the past 30 years dividing his time equally between work in the NHS and in higher education. He is a clinical psychologist and medical sociologist and his clinical work was mainly in acute psychiatry and secure provision. His academic activity has been mainly in the field of mental health policy and the history of ideas in relation to mental abnormality. He has a wide experience in the postgraduate teaching of psychologists, social workers and psychiatrists, and has supervised several research students to PhD completion and dozens to Masters level in psychology and social work.

He has a wide experience in the postgraduate teaching of psychologists, social workers and psychiatrists. He has supervised several research students to PhD completion and dozens to Masters level in psychology and social work.

His current research interests include mental health policy and the history and philosophy of mental health and mental disorder.

His published articles include:

Pilgrim, D. (2012) 'Child abuse in Irish Catholic Church settings: a non-reductionist account'. Child Abuse Review 21, 6, 405-413.

Pilgrim, D. (2011) 'The child abuse crisis in the Catholic church: international, national and personal policy aspects'. Policy and Politics 39, 3, 309-324

He is author of the upcoming book Understanding Mental Health: A Critical Realist Exploration (Routledge).