Centre for Mental Health and Society

Member , CFMHAS

Research Project Support Officer

PhD Student

School of Health Sciences, Bangor University
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k.barnett@bangor.ac.uk

03000 847086

Kim Barnett

After completing my undergraduate degree and MRes in Criminology, I stepped away from academia and spent over the following decade working in substance misuse and mental health services with individuals involved in the criminal justice system. During this time, I worked across the UK and New Zealand, developing and delivering programmes within both men’s and women’s prisons, gang-focused initiatives, the Drug Court, residential rehabilitation, and respite services. These roles provided me with direct insight into the complex needs of people navigating substance use, trauma, mental health difficulties, and criminal justice involvement, and strengthened my commitment to practice and evidence informed work.

Through this frontline experience, my interest deepened in understanding the aetiology of substance misuse, the effectiveness of treatment interventions, and the broader implications of drug policy. This was a motivator to my transition into research.

I have previously contributed to research projects, South Asia Self-Harm Initiative (SASHI) and Women’s Social Care in Prison: Identifying Needs and an Appropriate Service Response (WOSCIP) at the University of Manchester, and I took a leading role in Substance Misuse Services Evaluation in HMP Berwyn at Bangor University. I have recently submitted my PhD, which explores the lived experiences of individuals engaging with substance misuse services in prison, during their transition into the community, and following release.

Projects

Completed (2022–2025): Substance Misuse Services Evaluation in HMP Berwyn — a mixed-methods study. Funded by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (£325k).
Ongoing: Stakeholder Engagement on Buvidal Use in Prison and Post-Release Care. Funded by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (£16k).

Conference Presentations

Barnett, K. A systematic review of substance misuse treatment processes and outcomes as implemented in prisons for men in the UK. British Society of Criminology Conference, 2025, Portsmouth, UK.

Awards

Drapers’ Company Medal (2025) awarded for Outstanding Postgraduate Research Contribution.

Papers

  • Barnett, k.; Butt, N.; Allen, R.; Goodlad, P.; Krayer, A.; O'Neill, A.; Huxley, P.; Robinson, C.; Peckham, E.; Poole, R.. A Systematic Review of Substance Misuse Treatment Processes and Outcomes as Implemented in Prisons for Men in the UK. Criminal Behaviour and Mental Health. 2025. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/cbm.70008
  • McPhillips, R., Allen, R., Ramesh, P., Barnett, K., Chadwick, H., Batool, S., Anam Elahi, Keith Hawton, Peter Huxley, Anne Krayer, Murali Krishna, Sadia Bashir Nafees, Robinson, C. . Knowledge, Attitudes, and Experiences of Self-Harm and Suicide in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Quantitative Systematic Review. Crisis, 0(0).. The Journal of Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention. 2025. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1027/0227-5910/a001004
  • Robinson, L., O’Neill, A., Forsyth, K., Heathcote, L., Barnett, K., Senior, J., Gutridge, K., Robinson, C. A., & Shaw, J. . Older women in the criminal justice system: a brief report from a nominal group. The Journal of Forensic Psychiatry & Psychology. The Journal of Forensic Psychiatry and Psychology . 2024. 1–13. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/14789949.2024.2437447
  • O’Neill, A., Shaw, J., Heathcote, L., Hewson, T., Mulligan, L., Robinson, L., Newton-Clarke, A., Thompson, E., Wong, E., Barnett, K., Lerigo, F., Bowden, J., Gutridge, K., Minchin, M., Edge, D., Ware, S., Falvey, R., Robinson, C. A., Senior, J., & Forsyth, K. . Developing evidence for a national strategy for older adults in the criminal justice system: overview of the nominal group approach for this series of brief reports. The Journal of Forensic Psychiatry & Psychology. 2024. 1-16. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/14789949.2024.2438882