Professor Hanna Kienzler
Professor of Global Health
- Co-Director, ESRC Centre for Society and Mental Health
Research interests
- Equality
- Medicine
- Mental Health
- Policy
Biography
Hanna Kienzler is a Professor of Global Health and Co-Director of the ESRC Centre for Society and Mental Health. She completed her PhD in cultural and medical anthropology in the Departments of Anthropology and Social Studies of Medicine at McGill University, Montreal, Canada.
She also worked as a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Psychiatry and the Psychosocial Research Division at the Douglas Mental Health University Institute at McGill University and as a Research Associate for the Trauma and Global Health (TGH) programme.
Blog: Symptomspeak – delving into the lived experience of wars and their aftermath, in suffering and mental health, and in health-seeking and healing. Catch up on the latest posts on Facebook or @symptomspeak.
Research
- Global health
- Health and mental health outcomes due to systemic violence, ethnic conflict and complex emergencies
- Humanitarian and mental health interventions
- Impacts of war and trauma on women
- Refugee mental health
As an anthropologist with a long-standing interest in the field of global health, Hanna investigates how systemic violence, ethnic conflict and complex emergencies intersect with health and mental health outcomes. She conducts ethnographic research on the impact of war and trauma on women in Kosovo; on what it means for persons with mental health problems to live and participate in their respective communities in Palestine; and on humanitarian and mental health interventions in fragile states.
Hanna holds two major grants:
- Wellcome Trust funded Collaborative Award, 'Mental Health and Justice', to investigate community-based support for persons with mental health problems in Palestine, Ghana and the UK.
- UK Research and Innovation, 'Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) Research for Health in Conflict' (R4HC-MENA), to build research capacity in the field of mental health in conflict-affected areas of the Middle East with particular focus on Palestine.
Teaching
Undergraduate
- BA Global Health & Social Medicine
- BSc Global Health & Social Medicine
- 4SSHM002 Introduction to Global Health 2
- 6SSHM004 War, Mental Health and Social Ruptures
Postgraduate
- MA Bioethics & Society
- MSc Global Health & Social Justice
- 7SSHM506 Researching Vulnerable Populations
Further details
Research
Culture, Medicine & Power research group
Delving into the interdisciplinary study of social, cultural, political and historical dimensions of health and illness.
Mental Health & Society research group
Seeking to better understand the socio-political dimensions of mental health and illness in the Global North and South.
Centre for Conflict & Health Research
Cross disciplinary initiative studying the intersection of global health, security, and political governance in conflict-affected fragile states and regions.
Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Directory for Refugees and Migrants in London
The MHPSS Directory is a detailed list of organisations providing mental health and social support services to refugees and migrants in London.
Project status: Ongoing
Together to Transform
A mutual learning platform to develop a social paradigm for global mental health.
Project status: Ongoing
Refugee Mental Health and Place Network
Network exploring post-migration and refugee mental health
News
Applications open for three new studentships at the ESRC Centre for Society and Mental Health
The ESRC Centre for Society and Mental Health invite prospective students to apply for new studentships aligned with its key research areas, with a focus on...
A Mentally Healthier Nation: support from ESRC Centre for Society and Mental Health
The new ‘A Mentally Healthier Nation’ report by the Centre for Mental Health has called for cross-cutting policy to increasing mental health. The report’s...
New directory provides valuable information about mental health and psychosocial support services for refugees and migrants in London
Researchers at the ESRC Centre for Society and Mental Health have published a new directory listing mental health and social support services for refugees and...
The Centre for Society & Mental Health announces exciting new PhD studentships
King's Centre for Society & Mental Health announces new PhD studentships in three areas.
Events
Launch event: Theorizing the social in mental health research and action
What does a social perspective on mental health look like? And why does it matter? Join us as we explore these questions at our launch of the special issue...
Please note: this event has passed.
Book launch (online): 'Ways of Belonging: Undocumented Youth in the Shadow of Illegality’
Join this talk to hear more about this book examining the experiences of belonging of undocumented young people who are made invisible and are excluded...
Please note: this event has passed.
Links between neighbourhood social composition and refugee mental health - evidence from a Danish cohort study
Join this session to explore a large cohort study on the importance of the neighbourhood social environment for refugee mental health.
Mental Health and Wellbeing of Somali Refugees in Urban Neighbourhoods of London and Bristol
Join us to explore the findings of a qualitative study examining the role of urban neighbourhoods in the mental health and wellbeing of refugees, specifically...
Please note: this event has passed.
Research Methods Toolkit website: Online Launch
Join us for the launch of the Research Methods Toolkit website, a new free bank of resources to help you produce your own research in the field of society and...
Please note: this event has passed.
Poetry of sanctuary: Searching for safety, belonging and home
Join the Refugee Mental Health and Place Network for an evening of personal and poetic expression of the lived refugee experience.
Please note: this event has passed.
Pandemic reckonings: Reparations and restorative justice in the wake of COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted vast inequalities within our health and social care systems. It has also highlighted how racism, both contemporary and...
Please note: this event has passed.
Features
Inverting the deficit model in global mental health
In a new paper in PLOS Global Health, researchers from the ESRC Centre for Society and Mental Health have collaborated with mental health practitioners,...
World Mental Health Day: understanding the role of our society
On World Mental Health Day, the ESRC Centre for Society and Mental Health is highlighting the need to understand how societal systems, structures and...
Understanding the role of place in refugee mental health to inform policy
‘Place’ is inherent in the experience of every refugee and has a deep impact on their mental health. In this blog Hannah Kienzler and Guntars Ermansons...
Reforming the UK's refugee and asylum system for a just and inclusive society
We speak to Professor Hanna Kienzler about her work in the Commission on the Integration of Refugees as a commissioner and Steering Group member.
Partnerships, Power, Potential: GHSM on from 10
This exhibition takes a look at the research being undertaken by GHSM academics and students across the world.
Refugee mental health: understanding place, politics and migration
Understanding 'place' is critical to supporting the mental health of refugees and migrants facing challenging conditions upon arrival.
How can communities come together to partner for change?
Reflections on the ESRC Centre for Society and Mental Health Partnering for Change Festival 2022
Democratising Research: The Development of an Online Research Methods Toolkit
We are a group of researchers made up of service users, survivors, academics, project coordinators and artists in the ESRC Centre for Society and Mental...
Why refugee-focused charities need the help of academia
In this blog, CEO of New Citizens’ Gateway Dr Nazee Akbari explores how academic can support the work of charities working with refugee communities,
Refugee Mental Health and The Role of Place
Reflections from our networking workshop: “Refugee Mental Health and The Role of Place"
Research
Culture, Medicine & Power research group
Delving into the interdisciplinary study of social, cultural, political and historical dimensions of health and illness.
Mental Health & Society research group
Seeking to better understand the socio-political dimensions of mental health and illness in the Global North and South.
Centre for Conflict & Health Research
Cross disciplinary initiative studying the intersection of global health, security, and political governance in conflict-affected fragile states and regions.
Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Directory for Refugees and Migrants in London
The MHPSS Directory is a detailed list of organisations providing mental health and social support services to refugees and migrants in London.
Project status: Ongoing
Together to Transform
A mutual learning platform to develop a social paradigm for global mental health.
Project status: Ongoing
Refugee Mental Health and Place Network
Network exploring post-migration and refugee mental health
News
Applications open for three new studentships at the ESRC Centre for Society and Mental Health
The ESRC Centre for Society and Mental Health invite prospective students to apply for new studentships aligned with its key research areas, with a focus on...
A Mentally Healthier Nation: support from ESRC Centre for Society and Mental Health
The new ‘A Mentally Healthier Nation’ report by the Centre for Mental Health has called for cross-cutting policy to increasing mental health. The report’s...
New directory provides valuable information about mental health and psychosocial support services for refugees and migrants in London
Researchers at the ESRC Centre for Society and Mental Health have published a new directory listing mental health and social support services for refugees and...
The Centre for Society & Mental Health announces exciting new PhD studentships
King's Centre for Society & Mental Health announces new PhD studentships in three areas.
Events
Launch event: Theorizing the social in mental health research and action
What does a social perspective on mental health look like? And why does it matter? Join us as we explore these questions at our launch of the special issue...
Please note: this event has passed.
Book launch (online): 'Ways of Belonging: Undocumented Youth in the Shadow of Illegality’
Join this talk to hear more about this book examining the experiences of belonging of undocumented young people who are made invisible and are excluded...
Please note: this event has passed.
Links between neighbourhood social composition and refugee mental health - evidence from a Danish cohort study
Join this session to explore a large cohort study on the importance of the neighbourhood social environment for refugee mental health.
Mental Health and Wellbeing of Somali Refugees in Urban Neighbourhoods of London and Bristol
Join us to explore the findings of a qualitative study examining the role of urban neighbourhoods in the mental health and wellbeing of refugees, specifically...
Please note: this event has passed.
Research Methods Toolkit website: Online Launch
Join us for the launch of the Research Methods Toolkit website, a new free bank of resources to help you produce your own research in the field of society and...
Please note: this event has passed.
Poetry of sanctuary: Searching for safety, belonging and home
Join the Refugee Mental Health and Place Network for an evening of personal and poetic expression of the lived refugee experience.
Please note: this event has passed.
Pandemic reckonings: Reparations and restorative justice in the wake of COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted vast inequalities within our health and social care systems. It has also highlighted how racism, both contemporary and...
Please note: this event has passed.
Features
Inverting the deficit model in global mental health
In a new paper in PLOS Global Health, researchers from the ESRC Centre for Society and Mental Health have collaborated with mental health practitioners,...
World Mental Health Day: understanding the role of our society
On World Mental Health Day, the ESRC Centre for Society and Mental Health is highlighting the need to understand how societal systems, structures and...
Understanding the role of place in refugee mental health to inform policy
‘Place’ is inherent in the experience of every refugee and has a deep impact on their mental health. In this blog Hannah Kienzler and Guntars Ermansons...
Reforming the UK's refugee and asylum system for a just and inclusive society
We speak to Professor Hanna Kienzler about her work in the Commission on the Integration of Refugees as a commissioner and Steering Group member.
Partnerships, Power, Potential: GHSM on from 10
This exhibition takes a look at the research being undertaken by GHSM academics and students across the world.
Refugee mental health: understanding place, politics and migration
Understanding 'place' is critical to supporting the mental health of refugees and migrants facing challenging conditions upon arrival.
How can communities come together to partner for change?
Reflections on the ESRC Centre for Society and Mental Health Partnering for Change Festival 2022
Democratising Research: The Development of an Online Research Methods Toolkit
We are a group of researchers made up of service users, survivors, academics, project coordinators and artists in the ESRC Centre for Society and Mental...
Why refugee-focused charities need the help of academia
In this blog, CEO of New Citizens’ Gateway Dr Nazee Akbari explores how academic can support the work of charities working with refugee communities,
Refugee Mental Health and The Role of Place
Reflections from our networking workshop: “Refugee Mental Health and The Role of Place"