Michaela Pawley, a UK Data Service Data Impact Fellow, reflects on the emotional challenges of working with sensitive secondary data and shares practical steps for researcher wellbeing.
Conducting research on self-harm and suicide is undeniably important, yet it often comes with emotional and psychological weight.
Whilst institutional and ethics guidance frequently centres on participant safety, duty of care, and protocols for responding to disclosures, the impact on researchers themselves is less often acknowledged.
Increasingly, however, scholars and institutions are recognising that studying sensitive topics can take a toll on those doing the work. This growing awareness has led to the development of new support systems and communities, such as the Emotionally Demanding Research Network Scotland and the Researcher Wellbeing Group, initiatives that create spaces for researchers to share, reflect, and access support.
For those working with secondary data, the emotional landscape can be a little different. Although we may not engage directly with participants or hear their stories first-hand, the work can still be emotionally demanding.
Reading through codebooks, managing datasets that include self-harm indicators or mortality outcomes, and repeatedly engaging with distressing variables can have a cumulative effect. And unlike teams conducting primary research, secondary data analysts often have fewer built-in opportunities for debriefing or emotional support.
Despite the growth of guidance on researcher wellbeing, most of it still focuses on primary data collection, leaving a gap for those working in observational, administrative, or cohort-based research. Addressing this gap is essential, and it begins with acknowledging the emotional labour involved in working with difficult datasets.
What makes secondary data research distinct?
Secondary data work carries a different kind of emotional exposure. Without the immediacy of participant interaction, the emotional aftermath can appear more diffuse – yet, it remains present.
It often comes as a “slow drip”: reviewing variables related to self-harm, repeatedly handling records linked to difficult outcomes, or reflecting on the people behind the numbers. These small moments accumulate over time and can affect how we feel, think, and work.
Because secondary data researchers are less likely to have structured emotional support or debriefing built into their routines, taking care of our wellbeing requires proactive intention. Recognising the emotional dimension of data work is the first step towards protecting ourselves while continuing to produce meaningful and impactful research.
Key principles for safeguarding mental health during secondary data research
The following recommendations adapt existing guidance for the specific context of secondary analysis. They also draw on my personal experiences of working in this field, so they are reflective rather than prescriptive, but offered in the hope they may support others.
Set boundaries and limits
Balancing deadlines and ongoing responsibilities can make it tempting to push through distressing content for long periods. Building boundaries into your schedule, such as limiting the time spent on sensitive variables each day or alternating between emotionally heavy and lighter tasks, can help prevent overwhelm and sustain your wellbeing.
Debrief and reflect
There is evidence to support the benefits of journalling for mental health, and reflective writing can help process the emotional impact of the work. Pairing this with conversations with peers, supervisors, or trusted colleagues, can provide validation, perspective, and support. Sometimes simply naming what feels heavy can lighten it.
Monitor your own indicators
We each know our own patterns best. Pay attention to signs such as irritability, sleep disruption, intrusive thoughts, or emotional fatigue. These signals can indicate the need to slow down or step back. Early awareness allows for early intervention.
Encourage institutional and structural support.
Research groups and institutions can play an important role in supporting researcher wellbeing. Recognising that emotional load exists even without direct participant contact is a crucial step. Workload planning, flexible deadlines, and open discussions about wellbeing can help normalise the emotional side of sensitive data work.
Practice ethical reflexivity
Returning to the purpose and value of your research can be grounding. Remind yourself why you chose to study these topics, what drives your curiosity and commitment, and how your work contributes to understanding and prevention. Aligning with your values can help sustain motivation and protect against emotional fatigue.
When work becomes heavy: knowing when to step back
There may be times when the work feels too heavy. Changes in thought patterns, mood, sleep, or energy can all signal that a pause is needed. Taking a break, whether for a few hours, days, or longer, is not only acceptable, but healthy. Seeking support through institutional wellbeing services, counselling, or external therapy can provide additional space to process emotions and regain balance.
Reassessing timelines, redistributing tasks, or adjusting expectations can also help ensure that when you return to the work, you do so with clearer boundaries and a healthier foundation.
Moving forward
Although engaging in sensitive-topic research, like self-harm and suicide, can be emotionally challenging, caring for our own wellbeing is not an optional extra, it is essential to the integrity and sustainability of our work.
There is immense value in researching these topics, and the insights gained can contribute to impactful, life-saving change. To continue making meaningful contributions, we must support not only the individuals represented in the data, but also ourselves as the people interpreting it.
By acknowledging the emotional realities of secondary data research and embracing supportive practices, we create the conditions to continue this important work with compassion, clarity, and hope.
About the author
Michaela Pawley is a Research Fellow working for the Midlands Mental Health Mission at the Institute for Mental Health, University of Birmingham. She is also a Data Impact Fellow with the UK Data Service.
Michaela’s research investigates how sleep contributes to mental health difficulties in young people, including self-harm, suicidal behaviour, and mood disorders. Through adopting a biopsychosocial and contextual lens, her work aims to provide a holistic understanding of how sleep interacts with other risk factors to shape mental health outcomes. This approach is designed to inform the development of more comprehensive and effective sleep-focused interventions that can address and prevent these challenges.
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