Zara Asif
Research Assistant
- PhD student
Research interests
- Mental Health
- Community
Biography
Zara originally joined King’s in 2015 as an undergraduate student, studying Global Health and Social Medicine, before starting her started her PhD part-time in October 2021. She also has a Masters of Public Health from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
Zara joined the Centre for Society and Mental Health's Marginalised Communities Programme in January 2021. Her current research focuses around global mental health and mental health policy, particularly among marginalised communities such as refugees and migrants.
Research
Thesis title: 'The mental health of young refugees in the UK: Understanding the lived experiences of endurance and thriving in a Hostile Environment'
Zara's research interest's include:
- Global Mental Health
- Public Health
- Health policy
- Refugee and migrant health
- Health advocacy
Public Engagement
Zara contributed to Our Sick Society's podcast entitled - 'Mental Health and the Asylum Process'. This episode explored society's role in refugee and asylum-seeker mental health in the UK and systems and structures affecting their mental health.
Further details
Research
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
Refugee Mental Health and Place Network
Network exploring post-migration and refugee mental health
Not My Shame
Amplifying voices of sexual and gender-based violence survivors from underrepresented groups, empowering and supporting healing and breaking silence and shame.
Project status: Ongoing
Enriched Package of Social Support for People with Psychoses
To develop and test the delivery of a package of social interventions tailored to the assessed needs of those with a psychotic disorder.
Project status: Ongoing
News
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...
Events
Refugee Mental Health and Place Series: Music and the meaning of place, a case from the Middle East
Refugee Mental Health and Place Series:Music and the meaning of place, a case from the Middle East
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.
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.
Features
Not My Shame: the shame will belong to the perpetrators.
Zara Asif shares an update on the collaborative Not My Shame project
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.
Refugee Mental Health and The Role of Place
Reflections from our networking workshop: “Refugee Mental Health and The Role of Place"
Research
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
Refugee Mental Health and Place Network
Network exploring post-migration and refugee mental health
Not My Shame
Amplifying voices of sexual and gender-based violence survivors from underrepresented groups, empowering and supporting healing and breaking silence and shame.
Project status: Ongoing
Enriched Package of Social Support for People with Psychoses
To develop and test the delivery of a package of social interventions tailored to the assessed needs of those with a psychotic disorder.
Project status: Ongoing
News
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...
Events
Refugee Mental Health and Place Series: Music and the meaning of place, a case from the Middle East
Refugee Mental Health and Place Series:Music and the meaning of place, a case from the Middle East
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.
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.
Features
Not My Shame: the shame will belong to the perpetrators.
Zara Asif shares an update on the collaborative Not My Shame project
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.
Refugee Mental Health and The Role of Place
Reflections from our networking workshop: “Refugee Mental Health and The Role of Place"