Prof. Dr. Pooja Saini | Psychology | Best Researcher Award

Professor at Liverpool John Moores University, United Kingdom

Professional Profile

Orcid

Summary

Dr. Pooja Saini is a Reader in Suicide and Self-Harm Prevention at Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU), UK. A leading academic in public health psychology, she has dedicated over two decades to advancing suicide prevention research across primary care, community, and school-based settings. As Co-Chair of the Women’s Academic Network, Co-Lead of the Research Centre for Brain and Behaviour, and Founder of the Suicide and Self-Harm Research Network North West, she is deeply committed to impactful research, institutional leadership, and capacity building in mental health and wellbeing.

Educational Details

Dr. Saini holds a Ph.D. from the University of Manchester (2015), where her work focused on suicide prevention and primary care engagement. She earned her M.Sc. in Psychology from the University of Liverpool in 2003 and B.Sc. from the University of Leicester in 2001. She is a Fellow (FHEA) and Associate Fellow (AFHEA) of the Higher Education Academy and a Chartered Psychologist with the British Psychological Society. Her multidisciplinary education spans psychological science, public health, and healthcare implementation.

Professional Experience

Dr. Saini has held academic and research appointments at LJMU, University of Liverpool, and the University of Manchester. She currently leads multiple externally funded projects as a Reader at LJMU and previously served as Knowledge Exchange and Implementation Research Manager for the CLAHRC NWC. Her past roles include Postdoctoral Research Associate positions in clinical and methodological research. She has led large transformation projects with NHS Trusts and is an advisor, mentor, and Director of Studies to numerous PhD students and PDRAs. She also serves as Co-Chair of the International Suicide Prevention in Primary Care Special Interest Group.

Research Interests

Dr. Saini's research spans suicide prevention, self-harm intervention, postvention services, and health inequalities across various populations, with a strong emphasis on primary care, schools, emergency services, and minority communities. Her work includes co-produced mental health interventions, pathways to crisis care, and decision-making in psychiatric admissions. She also leads pioneering research into suicide prevention during menopause, adolescent mental health, and public involvement in health research.

Author Metrics

Dr. Saini has published 75 peer-reviewed journal articles, 47 conference papers, 1 book chapter, and over 30 other outputs. Her work is cited in 11 global policy documents, reflecting international influence. She has secured £1.97 million in external research funding as Principal Investigator, with additional in-kind funding of over £220,000. Her h-index is 13 with 825 citations, evidencing a robust and growing research impact.

Awards and Honors

Dr. Saini’s excellence has been recognized through multiple accolades, including the International Cochrane Bill Silverman Award (2015), the National Asian Women of Achievement Award (2018), and the Cogent Psychology International Spotlight Research Award (2022). She has received Faculty of Health Excellence Awards for research, knowledge exchange, and impact at LJMU. Her work has directly influenced national services, including the establishment of James’ Place suicide crisis centres, and contributed to policy documents from the UK government, WHO, and leading health organizations.

Publication Top Notes

1. Rates of Suicide Ideation and Associated Risk Factors Among Female Secondary School Students in Iraq

  • Authors: Saad Sabet Alatrany, Molly McCarthy, Ashraf Muwafaq Flaiyah, Emma Ashworth, Hasan Ali Sayyid Aldrraji, Abbas Saad Alatrany, Dhiya Al-Jumeily, Sarmad Nadeem, Jo Robinson, Pooja Saini

  • Journal: Healthcare

  • Publication Date: May 27, 2025

  • DOI: 10.3390/healthcare13111260

  • Publisher: MDPI

  • Summary: This study investigates the prevalence and correlates of suicide ideation among female secondary school students in Iraq. Findings highlight urgent needs for culturally appropriate suicide prevention strategies in educational settings.

2. Systems Thinking in Mental Health Patient Safety: A Narrative Review of Complex Adaptive Systems

  • Authors: Alexander Challinor, Oladayo Bifarin, Esmaeil Khedmati Morasae, Professor Pooja Saini, Kathryn Berzins, Rajan Nathan

  • Journal: Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice

  • Publication Date: May 19, 2025

  • DOI: 10.1111/jep.70080

  • ISSN: 1356-1294

  • Summary: This review explores how systems thinking and complex adaptive systems theory can improve safety in mental health services, offering a novel lens on patient risk management and clinician decision-making.

3. A Mixed Methods Longitudinal Case Study Exploring the Impact of a Community-Based, Brief Psychological Intervention for Men Experiencing Suicidal Crisis

  • Authors: Claire Anne Hanlon, Karli Montague-Cardoso, Jennifer Chopra, Jane Boland, David McIlroy, Helen Poole, Pooja Saini

  • Journal: PLOS Mental Health

  • Publication Date: April 8, 2025

  • DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmen.0000024

  • Summary: This study evaluates the effectiveness and sustainability of a novel brief psychological intervention for men in suicidal crisis. The mixed-methods approach captures both individual and systemic outcomes over time.

4. Risks to the Clinician of Risk Management: Recalled and Anticipated Consequences of Decision-Making

  • Authors: Alexander Challinor, Shivani Bhandari, Stephen Boyle, Mark Gabbay, Penny Wilson, Professor Pooja Saini, Rajan Nathan

  • Journal: Frontiers in Psychiatry

  • Publication Date: February 27, 2025

  • DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1484372

  • PMID: 40084049 | PMC: PMC11904246

  • Summary: This article examines the emotional and professional toll on clinicians who make high-stakes mental health decisions. It underscores the need for organizational support structures in mental health services.

5. Rates of Suicide Ideation and Associated Risk Factors Among Female Secondary School Students in Iraq (Preprint)

  • Same authors as Article 1

  • Platform: Authorea (Preprint Server)

  • Publication Date: February 6, 2025

  • DOI: 10.22541/au.173883605.54614990/v1

  • Summary: Preprint version of the article later published in Healthcare. Useful for early dissemination and citation prior to peer-reviewed journal release.

Conclusion

Prof. Dr. Pooja Saini exemplifies the ideal candidate for the Best Researcher Award. Her portfolio combines academic excellence, public health impact, and global influence. She is a thought leader whose research has changed clinical pathways, improved health services, and saved lives, particularly in marginalized and high-risk populations.

Her dedication to equity, innovation, and mentorship, coupled with her consistently excellent output, aligns seamlessly with the core values such an award seeks to honor.

Pooja Saini | Psychology | Best Researcher Award