Paul Crawford (academic)

Crawford received a Bachelor of Arts in English language and literature from the University of Birmingham in 1994, followed by a PhD in 1999. His thesis on the novelist William Golding was funded by the British Academy.

In 2001, Crawford joined the University of Nottingham, where he founded the Health Language Research Group. In 2008, he became the first Professor of Health Humanities globally. Currently, he serves as Director of the Centre for Social Futures at the Institute of Mental Health.

Crawford has secured over £6 million in research grants from organizations such as the Arts and Humanities Research Council, Economic and Social Research Council, and The Leverhulme Trust. In 2021, he led the "What’s Up With Everyone" campaign with Aardman Animations, which aimed to support young people’s mental health. The campaign won "Best Social Media and Content" at the 2021 Design Week Awards.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ukri.org/news/academics-join-forces-with-aardman-to-tackle-mental-health-crisis/|title=Academics join forces with Aardman to tackle mental health crisis {{!}} UKRI|website=www.ukri.org|date=8 February 2021 |language=en|access-date=2021-04-06}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.designweek.co.uk/awards-2021-results/|title=Design Week Awards 2021 Results|date=2021-01-18|access-date=2022-08-02|website=Design Week|language=en-UK}}

Crawford has authored or co-authored fifteen books, comprising two works of fiction and a wide range of non-fiction books on health communication, mental health, and literary analysis.

• Nothing Purple, Nothing Black (2002) — A compelling debut novel where the lives of a fugitive Roman Catholic bishop and an ex-mental patient intertwine, leading to a tragic climax. It explores themes of morality, faith, and the human condition.Crawford, P. (2002) Nothing Purple Nothing Black. The Book Guild: Lewes.
• The Wonders of Doctor Bent (2025) — A psychological thriller exploring trauma, revenge, and redemption through the dark and complex journey of two unlikely companions.

• Communicating Care: The Language of Nursing (1998) — The first volume worldwide on non-medical discourse in healthcare.Crawford, P., Brown, B. & Nolan, P. (1998) Communicating Care: The Language of Nursing. Stanley Thornes: Cheltenham.
• Politics and History in William Golding (2003) — A critical work reviewed in The Times Literary Supplement.Crawford, P. (2002) Politics and History in William Golding: The World Turned Upside Down. University of Missouri Press: Columbia.
• Evidence Based Research: Dilemmas and Debates in Healthcare (2003) — Highly Commended in the British Medical Association Book Competition.Brown, B., Crawford, P. & Hicks, C. (2003) Evidence Based Research: Dilemmas and Debates in Health Care. Open University Press: Maidenhead.
• Storytelling in Therapy (2004) — Explores the use of short stories in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.Crawford, R., Brown, B. & Crawford, P. (2004) Storytelling in Therapy. Nelson Thornes: Cheltenham.
• Communication in Clinical Settings (2006) — Introduces the "Brief, Ordinary and Effective Model" for health communication.Crawford, P., Brown, B & Bonham, P. (2006) Communication in Clinical Settings. Nelson Thornes: Cheltenham.
• Evidence-based Health Communication (2006) — Advocates for data-driven learning in health communication.Brown, B., Crawford, P. & Carter, R. (2006) Evidence-based Health Communication. Open University Press: Maidenhead.
• Madness in Post-1945 British and American Fiction (2010) — Analyzes representations of madness in literature.Baker, C., Crawford, P., Carter, R., Lipsedge, M. & Brown, B. (2010) Madness in Post-1945 British and American Fiction. Palgrave: London.
• Health Humanities (2015) — Expands on Crawford's seminal paper defining the field.Crawford, P., Brown, B., Baker, C., Tischler, V., & Abrams, B. (2015) Health Humanities. Palgrave: London.
• Humiliation: Mental Health and Public Shame (2019) — Examines the link between humiliation and aggression.Svindseth, M. & Crawford, P. (2019) Humiliation: Mental Health and Public Shame. Emerald: Bingley.
• The Routledge Companion to Health Humanities (2020) — A comprehensive volume featuring 65 chapters from global scholars.Crawford, P., Brown, B., & Charise, A. (Eds.). (2020). The Routledge Companion to Health Humanities. London: Routledge.
• Florence Nightingale at Home (2020) — Explores domestic influences on Nightingale's ideas.Crawford, P., Greenwood, A., Bates, R., & Memel, J. (2020). Florence Nightingale at Home. London: Palgrave.
• Cabin Fever: Surviving Lockdown in the Coronavirus Pandemic (2021) — A cultural history of isolation.Crawford, P. & Crawford, J. (2021). Cabin Fever: Surviving Lockdown in the Coronavirus Pandemic. Bingley: Emerald.
• Mental Health Literacy and Young People (2022) — A guide for young people’s mental health literacy.{{Cite book |last=Crawford |first=Paul |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1331703834 |title=Mental health literacy and young people |date=2022 |isbn=978-1-80382-149-8 |location=Bingley, UK |oclc=1331703834}}

Crawford has been featured on major radio programs such as BBC Radio 4's Today programme and Woman's Hour, discussing topics like mental health, religion, and creative writing.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/today/listenagain/listenagain_20050827.shtml|title=BBC - Radio 4 - Today Programme Listen Again}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00rghqp|title=BBC Radio 4 - Woman's Hour, Celibacy in the Catholic Church; Jesca Hoop}}

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Category:1963 births

Category:Living people

Category:Academics of the University of Nottingham

Category:Alumni of the University of Birmingham

Category:BBC radio presenters

Category:Fellows of the Academy of Social Sciences