Paul Watson

Coming from a military family Paul understands the unique current and historic landscape of the Military community, and specifically children, young people and young carers. Paul joined the Armed Forces (Royal Logistic Corps) when he was 17 and undertook tours in both Bosnia and Kosovo. On leaving the Armed Forces, Paul completed a BSc in Mental Health nursing, specialising in children’s mental health nursing in 2013. Paul then went on to complete a Post Graduate Diploma in Specialist Community Public Health nursing (School Nurse) in 2014. Paul was appointed the school nurse for Catterick Military Garrison, supporting the health and well-being of 1,600 children, young people, and young carers.

Paul is currently a lecturer in children and young people’s mental health, Specialist Public Health Nursing (School Nursing and Health Visiting) and manager of the Northern Hub for Military and Veterans Family Research at Northumbria University, with a growing portfolio of research on children, young people and young carers within the military community. Moreover, Paul is currently undertaking a PhD titled: The experiences of being a young carer of a veteran parent with PTSD: A narrative enquiry.

As Principle Investigator, Paul has undertaken international research in Denmark looking at the mental well-being of Danish Military Children. This initital work with the Danish military charity SSOP,  generated a 4-year project, which is now underway to explore the impact of SSOP’s interventions on the well-being of military children.