Mirika Flegg is passionate about supporting the involvement of those with lived-experience of adversities in research and adopts user-led, collaborative and decolonizing methodologies to this aim.  She works closely with the Centre of Resilience for Social Justice; taking an interdisciplinary, asset-based and systems approach to addressing health inequalities.  She is on the management team for the Centre of Resilience for Social Justice and for the School of Health Sciences Research & Enterprise Committee.  For her efforts, Mirika was awarded University of Brighton Excellence in Community Engagement Award in 2016.

Scholarly Biography

Mirika’s recent research projects and publications focus on peer support in mental health and long-term conditions, educational and structural facilities for newly qualified practitioners, disability provisions in Higher Education, and building resilience within youth populations.  The latter of which is the focus of her current PhD.  Here, she is conducting a longitudinal qualitative study to explore the process, impacts and value of the Friend for Life Project (FFL) in Blackpool, UK.  

Mirika holds a Bachelors in Psychology from Concordia University (Canada) and two post-graduate certificates from the University of Brighton (UK) in Community, Engagement and Enterprise and Teaching and Learning in Higher Education.  Her professional development additionally includes short courses in Child and Youth Studies, Resilience, Human Resource Management, Journalism, IT, Song Writing and Film Making.  For her creative pursuits, she was awarded Quebec Canada Songwriter of the Year in 2001 and part of a team nominated for best-picture in the 2013 One Shot Movie Competition in 2012.  She utilises her artistic expertise to facilitate creative research practices. 

Approach to Teaching

Mirika holds a HEA Fellowship (FHEA) and draws from her research and practice-based experience in the support of her students.  Her teaching primarily centres around involving service-users in research and practice at the undergraduate and post-graduate levels and across health disciplines.  Her specialist knowledge in the area of Peer Support in mental health has led her to external examiner work for the CAPITAL PROJECT TRUST: Peer Support Worker Programme, Middlesex University London. 

Knowledge Exchange

Mirika has led on interdisciplinary speaker seminar series to bring researchers, practitioners and community members together in knowledge exchange.  This includes organising Resilience Forums in Blackpool, UK – a collaboration between the University of Brighton, HeadStart and Boingboing- and organising online training activities for newly qualified practitioners with the University of Brighton and Health Education Kent, Surrey and Sussex.  Having worked in community development in Canada, New Zealand and the UK, Mirika has a special interest in cross-cultural practices.  She was awarded a Hero’s medal for her work with young people in New Zealand in 2011 when she was nominated for New Zealander of the year.  Mirika is a founding member of the Sussex Peer Support Network; bringing those with lived-experience of adversity together with researchers and practitioners.