Jonathan Bisson is a practising psychiatrist and Clinical Professor in Psychiatry at Cardiff University. He is also the Director of Traumatic Stress Wales – a national initiative to improve the health and wellbeing of people affected by traumatic events in Wales and staff working in NHS Wales. He is also the Deputy Director of the National Centre for Mental Health and leads its intervention development workstream.

Jonathan Bisson has conducted many research studies including six randomised controlled trials and five Cochrane systematic reviews that have shaped research and practice in the traumatic stress field. He was co-chair of the UK’s first PTSD NICE Guideline Development Group and chair the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies’ Treatment Guidelines Committee. He developed and continue to lead Cardiff University’s Traumatic Stress Research Group, and developed and was the first director of NHS Veterans Wales and Health and Care Research Wales.

His main research interests are in the field of traumatic stress, and his work on early interventions following traumatic events has shaped thinking internationally. Jon says:

“I strongly support a more integrative approach to mental health.

Safe, supportive, empathic, compassionate and trusting relationships are central to the Trauma-Informed Wales framework. This framework aims to develop a Wales that recognises and responds to trauma and its effects in a positive way to improve the health and wellbeing of those affected.”

Jonathan Bisson was awarded the 2021 Lord Ashcroft Research Award, in recognition of his work on a novel treatment method for veterans suffering from Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).