This month, we find out what Mental Health and Wellbeing's Tiago Zortea values about his role in IHW and relationships with colleagues, his aspirations for the future, and love of jazz piano...

Tell us a bit about what you do in IHW

I am a postdoctoral research assistant within the Suicidal Behaviour Research Laboratory (led by Professor Rory O’Connor in Mental Health and Wellbeing), and my main role is conducting research in a range of topics related to the science of suicide prevention. I also supervise Masters students and am part of the IHW Athena Swan staff consultation group.

What do you enjoy about your role?

There are many things. The first, and perhaps most important, is that my work is aligned with some of my core values of compassion, humaneness, collaboration, equality, integrity, reciprocity, and mutual respect. Suicide is a topic that is very close to my heart and, for me, research in this field goes beyond a scientific enterprise. From time to time I receive emails from practitioners telling me about the usefulness of our research in their work at the frontline, or how some of our studies have helped people to understand their own experiences with suicide. Hence, conducting research that may help to save someone’s life or that may contribute to somebody’s recovery is extremely meaningful to me.

Second, I really enjoy working with my colleagues. Their support, enthusiasm, and passion for the work we do are very motivating.

Third, and not less important, are the actual scientific practices: reading, discovering, coding, discussing ideas with colleagues and involving those with lived experience is incredibly rewarding.

What are the challenges?

What is the best thing about working in IHW?I believe the challenges are around the practical aspects of the work: delivering high-quality research is something extremely difficult and demands a considerable amount of dedication. Perfectionists like me will know that the workload gets a bit bigger for us, as we scrutinise every little detail of what we do. Although this is great, the challenge is balancing work with a healthy lifestyle, which I believe is a common goal among scientists and it is not always so straightforward.

That is a difficult question because there are many good things. Being accepted, included, and respected are things I truly experience within IHW, and they occur in different ways on a day-to-day basis. I also appreciate the numerous opportunities I am given, which are so valuable for early career researchers like me. I feel very lucky and grateful.

Tell us something we might not know about you, or would surprise us

Conducting research that may help to save someone’s life or that may contribute to somebody’s recovery is extremely meaningful to me....and goes beyond a scientific enterprise.  

In a previous life, I studied piano and… conducting! It was something I was extremely passionate about, but other priorities took over. As one cannot buy an orchestra or a choir to conduct in a music instrument shop around the corner, I am planning on going back to studying piano, which seems to be a more feasible plan!

When or where are you happiest?

I believe I am happiest when I am surrounded by friends and family for a nice meal and a good chat. It’s a shame that the pandemic has made these moments more difficult to happen, and I am very much looking forward to the time when social distancing is only a memory of the past.

Any secret – or not so secret! – ambitions?

No secrets really!

Ambitions? At the professional level, what I want to see is the reduction of suicidal experiences as an effect of our work (when I say ‘our’ here, I am including everyone who works in this area). As suicide is not inevitable, there is hope and much much work to do. This ambition keeps me going.

At the personal level, I want to travel more and level up my street photography skills (have you seen Vivian Maier’s work? She’s my main inspiration for street photography!). Another ambition is learning how to play jazz piano – that would be a dream!

Do you have a favourite quote or saying, or mantra by which you try to live your life?

Yes. My Italian nana used to tell me very often: “What are you doing with your life? Is it worth it? Remember that life is too short, and we live only once. Try to live an enjoyable and meaningful life and try to help others to do the same”. This saying always brings me back to my values, to what I believe to be important. The external pressures to be successful, the intense competition for research funding, the “publish or perish” and other common rules to survive in academia can be tiring and sometimes may take away the attention to what really matters and why we do what we do. I appreciate this is not everyone’s experiences, but at the same time, I know that some people share them. Hence, the reflections that my grandmother left to me are incredibly valuable and help me to go back to the things that are essential and meaningful, even though this return is a constant and daily effort. 

If you would like to appear in "Five minutes with...", do please get in touch (jane.goodfellow@glasgow.ac.uk)! We plan to alternate professional services and research/teaching staff profiles, and feature colleagues from across a wide range of roles and grades within our institute. 

First published: 21 September 2020

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