What is HERON?
The Health inequalities Research Network (HERON) is a research and public engagement network launched in 2011, currently funded by the Wellcome Trust, comprising of community members and organisations, researchers and healthcare practitioners. Focussing on mental health and the interface between mental and physical health, HERON aims to raise critical awareness of, help people share experiences about, and identify ways to reduce inequalities in health and healthcare.
What do we do?
Lead and support research and evaluation work which involves people experiencing, or at risk of, inequalities in mental health or healthcare. Increasingly, this incorporates co-design and coproduction of research with our local and national community partners. Lead and support public engagement activities to create dialogue and promote action. These activities focus on promoting diversity and inclusion, incorporating multiple formats of engagement (e.g. through photography, physical activity, research methods training, music).
Our ethos
Our work is founded on the principles of:
- Sustainability
- Equality, diversity and inclusivity
- Social justice
Where do we work?
HERON is based at King’s College London in South East London. We work locally, nationally and internationally through links with our community, practice and academic partners. We also build links with non-academic groups to broaden geographical spread and impact.
Aims of the Network
- To provide a forum for health practitioners, researchers and community members to share experiences and information and work together to further understand the problems influencing health inequalities
- To highlight and work towards reducing health inequalities through integrated research and engagement activities
Activities
- HERON supports a variety of public engagement projects that provide different forums for highlighting, discussing and acting on health inequalities. This includes events using different types of media such as art, photography, performance and podcasting, and also physical exercise and schools-based training in research methods.
- HERON hosts conferences, seminars, public talks and other events to talk about health inequalities with a variety of non-academic and academic stakeholders · HERON partners with community organisations for engagement projects and to advise or support evaluation activities
- HERON supports a number of research projects being conducted at King’s College London that investigate health inequalities, including the South East London Community Health (SELCoH)Study, the Tackling Inequalities and Discrimination Experiences in Health Services (TIDES) Study and The HYPE (improving the Health of Young PeoplE) Project.
Past and current events:
HERON Conference 2014 – The first HERON conference - which included sessions and posters and discussions - provided a forum in which health practitioners, researchers and community members could share their experiences and information in order to further understand inequalities in health and healthcare.
Keynote Speaker:
Professor David R Williams – Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, US
HERON Conference 2018 - The 2018 HERON conference included presentations, workshops, discussion, art and more on the theme of ‘current and future directions in health equity research and action’ from researchers, community organisations, and healthcare representatives. The conference took a future-orientated perspective to explore how we can learn from present research and tackle inequalities through future research and action.
Keynote Speakers:
Dr Denese Shervington - Institute of Women and Ethnic Studies, New Orleans, US Cllr Jacqui Dyer - Black Thrive, London, UK Dr Rakhee Shah - Association of Young People’s Health, London, UK
RISE (Research methods In School Education) – was initially funded by King’s Widening Participation and was established in 2016 as a collaboration between researchers from HERON and The REACH (Resilience, Ethnicity and AdolesCent mental Health) Study.
RISE aims to engage young people on the topic of health inequalities, deliver research methods training and inspire young people to think critically about local community health. By creatively engaging local secondary school and sixth form students currently underrepresented on KCL undergraduate psychology and other health-related programmes, including nursing and medicine, the project also aims to encourage young people to stay in education and develop a career in science and health-related professions.
Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) Youth Awards - part of the wider Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) Youth Awards, established in 2013 and set up by Dr Margaret Heslin.
The awards are open to all young people aged 15 to 18 attending schools in South East London. The winners receive a £50 book token, a year of mentoring from a researcher and two days of work experience at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London.
UP&RUNNING/United.One For All – Initially funded by the Maudsley Charity ,
UP&RUNNING aims to promote self-management and recovery among young people experiencing early signs or symptoms of poor health, through physical activities. Our UP&RUNNING 2019-2020 programme will focus on engaging 16’s and over, especially those who are not in employment, education or training, or those at risk of becoming so. Our goal is to promote exercise as part of the holistic and integrative approach to mental wellbeing and include principles of the 5 Ways to Wellbeing (connect, learn, be active, give and take notice).
To do this, we aim to introduce young people to new activities through free training and taster sessions in boxing, running, football, general strength and conditioning, yoga, mindfulness and more! In addition, we aim to connect young people in a social, fun and non-judgmental environment.
South East London Photography (SELPh) - launched in November 2011, the group was founded by Billy Gazard, Wojtek Wojcik and Anthony Wallace in association with the HERON Network and funding from the South London and the Maudsley Charity. The project initially used photography to talk about everyday experiences but now uses a variety of media to highlight experiences and health inequalities. SELPh’s mission is to use a variety of media so that marginalised groups have the opportunity to represent themselves and voice their opinions to contribute to a dialogue on health and well-being.
Spoken Word In The Community Hubs (S.W.I.T.C.H) - In collaboration with Battersea Arts Centre, poet Jemilea Wisdom-Baako of Writerz and Scribez and artist Kay Rufai, S.W.I.T.C.H. is a project aimed at reaching audiences that feel excluded from conventional arts organisations, exploring how to increase arts participation. It involves removing barriers by placing the art in community hubs such as barbershops, youth provisions, salons and restaurants – going to people rather than expecting them to come to us. HERON and the HYPE project are supporting the formative evaluation of S.W.I.T.C.H. to explore whether and why people experiencing community-based projects are more likely to engage with creative arts workshops or events in future.
Soothsayers Music Workshops - A chance to enjoy practicing and performing with acclaimed Brixton based band Soothsayers, who’s music combines afrobeat, dub/reggae and jazz, in association with NIHR Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre.
HERON Origami – This activity was launched on World Mental Health Day 2019 at a Maudsley Charity event in south London. Following a successful initial workshop, additional workshops were held for staff at King’s College London and for mental health nurses at the South London and Maudsley NHS Trust.
Beyond the HYPE - A podcast series co-created by researchers, and young people. Participants are offered an opportunity to train in designing and editing their own podcast episode. The series presents discussion around young people’s health and wellbeing, including the link between physical exercise and health, social welfare issues, discrimination, inequalities.
People
PhD student
Research Assistant
PhD student
PhD student
Academic Clinical Fellow
NIHR Academic Clinical Lecturer
Projects
South East London Community Health Study (SELCoH)
The SELCoH study is an epidemiological cohort study of randomly selected households within Southwark and Lambeth.
Tackling Inequalities and Discrimination Experiences in health Services (TIDES)
TIDES study investigates how discrimination experienced by both patients and healthcare practitioners may generate and perpetuate inequalities in health service
The Schools Training to Enhance support for LGBT+ young People (STEP) Study
The STEP Study investigates what training is available to schools to support LGBT+ young people and how this training can be improved.
Awards
HERON is currently funded through Professor Hatch’s Wellcome Trust Investigators Award which funds the Tackling Inequalities and Discrimination Experiences in health Services (TIDES) study HERON is an evaluation partner for two Youth Access projects, “Equal Access in Mind” (funded by the Tampon Tax) and the “Youth Access Project” (funded by the National Lottery Community Fund) HERON was shortlisted in 2019 for a King’s Award for “Most Outstanding Commitment to London and Local Communities”
HERON Leadership
Professor Stephani Hatch
Professor Stephani Hatch is one of the lead co-ordinators of HERON and combines her background in sociology and psychiatric epidemiology in the Department of Psychological Medicine at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), King’s College London. Her research focuses on urban mental health and inequalities in health and health service use. She is the Principal Investigator (PI) for the Tackling Inequalities and Discrimination Experiences in health Services (TIDES) Study, funded by the Wellcome Trust and Co-PI for the Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) South East London Community Health (SELCoH) study and leads the HYPE (improving the Health of Young PeoplE) Project. Stephani is also a Co-Investigator for the ESRC funded Centre for Society and Mental Health, leading a programme focussed on Disadvantaged Communities and Mental Health.
Dr Cerisse Gunasinghe
Dr Cerisse Gunasinghe is a postdoctoral researcher and Counselling Psychologist in the Department of Psychological Medicine, IoPPN at King’s College London and is project co-ordinator for the HYPE (improving the Health of Young PeoplE) Project. Cerisse’s work is underpinned by a holistic model of care, and an appreciation of the impact of societal and cultural practices on individual experiences. Her research interests focus on reducing barriers to social and psychological support and educating community populations to help early identification and treatment of mental and physical health difficulties. Cerisse is the lead co-ordinator for UP&RUNNING and works on RISE and the Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) Youth Awards.
Dr Charlotte Woodhead
Dr Charlotte Woodhead is a Lecturer at the ESRC funded Centre for Society and Mental Health at King’s College London. Using insights from psychiatric and social epidemiology, and applied health research, her mixed methods research and public engagement activities focus on social/structural determinants of mental health inequalities. Specific interests include evaluation of complex social interventions to reduce inequalities in mental health and healthcare, including those led by communities affected; the role of the voluntary and community sector in mental health provision and equity of access; and, young adult mental health. Charlotte works across several HERON activities.
Dr Billy Gazard
Dr Billy Gazard is a Senior Research Officer at the Centre for Crime and Justice (Office for National Statistics). Billy is one of the lead co-ordinators of HERON and co-founder of the South East London Photography Group (SELPh). Billy's research interests include a focus on social determinants of health, LGBT health and mental health, health inequalities, discrimination experiences, and the impact of victimisation on mental health.
Programme Co-ordinator
Lucy Ensum
Lucy is the Programme Co-ordinator for the HERON Network, in the Department of Psychological Medicine at the IoPPN, King’s College London. Lucy is an experienced administrator and project co-ordinator, working for leading London universities since 2010. She brings over 15 years of event management skills to help with the smooth running of the HERON Network engagement activities.
Database Administrator
Shirlee MacCrimmon
Shirlee is the Research and Evaluation Manager of the HERON Network, in the Department of Psychological Medicine at the IoPPN, King’s College London. She has a BA in Psychology and a MLIS (Master of Library and Information Science). Shirlee is also the database administrator for related research projects in areas such as community health, military mental health, and integrating mental and physical health.
Research Team Collective
Nicol Bergou
Nicol is a Research Assistant in the Department of Psychological Medicine, IoPPN at King’s College London and is currently working on the Improving the Health of Young PeoplE (HYPE) Project. She has a background in Psychology and has recently completed an MSc in Psychiatric Research. Nicol also supports the delivery of the UP&RUNNING programme.
Zoe Chui
Zoe is a Research Assistant in the Department of Psychological Medicine at the IoPPN, King’s College London. She is currently working on the Tackling Inequalities and Discrimination Experiences in health Services (TIDES) Study, funded by the Wellcome Trust. She is also the lead co-ordinator for the Research methods In School Education (RISE) project.
Luke Connor
Luke joined King’s in 2019 as a Research Assistant in Psychological Medicine, he has a BSc in Psychology, and a MRes in Research Methods. Luke is currently working with the TIDES (Tackling Inequality and Discrimination Experiences in Health Services) team, and he is responsible for the management and organisation of the Virtual Reality (VR) study.
Fiyory Ghezae
Fiyory is a BSc Sport, Health and Exercise science graduate and has just completed an MSc in Mental Health Studies. She completed her personal trainer qualification three years ago and has been using it to help herself and others gain structure and enjoyment in the gym. Fiyory is a programme co-ordinator on UP&RUNNING.
Hannah Harwood
Hannah is a Research Assistant in the Department of Psychological Medicine at King’s College London’s IoPPN. She is working on the Tackling Inequalities and Discrimination Experiences in health Services (TIDES) study and is the lead co-ordinator for the South East London Photography Group (SELPh).
Katie Lambe
Katie is a Research Assistant in the Department of Psychological Medicine at the IoPPN, King’s College London. She is a member of the Improving the Health of Young PeoplE (HYPE) project team and is involved in conducting an evaluation of the impact of violence on young people (EYVI). Katie also works on the Research methods In School Education (RISE) project and supports the delivery of the UP&RUNNING programme.
Ashley McCarthy
Ashley is a Research Assistant in the Department of Psychological Medicine at the IoPPN, King’s College London. She is a member of the Improving the Health of Young PeoplE (HYPE) project team and is involved in conducting an evaluation of the impact of violence on young people (EYVI). Ashley also works with Cerisse on the Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) Youth Awards.
Dr Rebecca Rhead
Rebecca is a Research Associate at the IoPPN working on the Tackling Inequalities and Discrimination Experiences in health Services (TIDES) study. In her previous work she has used quantitative research methods to study HIV (particularly barriers to care and treatment adherence) as well as military mental health and treatment needs. Rebecca’s current work with TIDES focuses on harassment and discrimination in the NHS and taking an intersectional approach to patient healthcare inequalities. She has a PhD in Social Statistics and has been working in Psychological Medicine since 2017.
Alina Ivan
Alina is a Research Assistant in the Department of Psychological Medicine at King’s College London. She works on Remote Assessment of Disease and Relapse- Central Nervous System (RADAR-CNS) study and the Plugging In podcast series which explores how digital technologies are shaping the future of our mental health, in conversation with experts and young people. Within HERON, Alina assists with the Research methods in School Education (RISE) and SWITCH programmes.
Katie White
Katie is a research assistant in the Department of Psychological Medicine at the IoPPN, King’s College London. She conducts and manages recruitment for the major depressive disorder branch of the Remote Assessment of Disease and Relapse- Central Nervous System (RADAR-CNS) study. Katie is also co-lead on the ‘Plugging In’ podcast series, exploring the relationship between digital technologies and mental health in production with young people. Within HERON, Katie assists as a teacher and mentor in the Research methods in School Education (RISE) programme.
Gargie Ahmed
Thesis title: Contextual determinants and participant perspectives on the common mental disorders and access to psychological treatments in UK ethnic minorities: Mixed methods study utilising data from the Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Surveys (APMS) (a CASE project with the National Centre for Social Research) This mixed methods PhD will use nationally representative data to establish reasons behind the treatment gap for CMD in ethnic minority groups in the UK.
Dr Sarah Dorrington
Thesis title: Employment and health: workings of the fit note Sarah is a clinical researcher interested in life course epidemiology and health inequalities. She is doing a PhD exploring work and mental health in south east London, using health care data from primary care and secondary mental health services.
Sohail Jannesari
Thesis title: The effects of the asylum process on mental health in Iranians and Afghan asylum seekers Sohail is investigating the impact of the UK asylum process on mental health, with a particular focus on Iranian and Afghan asylum seekers. The initial part of his research will look at how researchers and work with asylum seekers in a non-exploitative, more equitable manner.
Dr Kate Polling
Thesis title: Understanding variations in self-harm rates between deprived areas in London Kate is a clinical researcher interested in health inequalities, particularly why mental health outcomes vary between different geographical areas, and how we can use routine data collected by health services to understand them. She is working on a PhD looking at how and why the rates of people coming to Emergency Departments following self-harm vary between different local areas within south east London.
Hana Riazuddin
Thesis title: Growing up during neighbourhood change: The impacts of urban regeneration on the psychosocial health of young people in South East London Hana is passionate about inequalities, art and culture, and the lives and experiences of young people in cities. This mixed-methods research aims to explore how urban regeneration impacts the psychosocial health of young people in South East London. She will be working collaboratively with young people as peer researchers on an arts-based research project to explore how they experience changes in their neighbourhood. This project is funded by the Economic Social Research Council.
Nkasi Stoll
Thesis title: Exploring the relationship between identity, university culture, and student well-being in the United Kingdom This mixed methods PhD is investigating the individual, social and institutional factors that shape students’ experiences of CMD and suicidality in the UK. Nkasi will co-design, deliver and evaluate a culturally-specific intervention with students identified as being most vulnerable to CMD and suicidality.
Sanchika Campbell
Thesis title: Religious coping and mental health: Faith, wellbeing and help-seeking among Black Majority Church members in South East London Sanchika is interested in health inequalities and Community Based Participatory Research methods. Her mixed-methods PhD aims to explore how religious coping affects mental health and help-seeking among members of Black Majority Churches in South East London. It will be guided by an advisory group and will use qualitative and quantitative research methods to address the aims. This project is funded by the Economic Social Research Council, as part of the Centre for Society and Mental Health.
People
PhD student
Research Assistant
PhD student
PhD student
Academic Clinical Fellow
NIHR Academic Clinical Lecturer
Projects
South East London Community Health Study (SELCoH)
The SELCoH study is an epidemiological cohort study of randomly selected households within Southwark and Lambeth.
Tackling Inequalities and Discrimination Experiences in health Services (TIDES)
TIDES study investigates how discrimination experienced by both patients and healthcare practitioners may generate and perpetuate inequalities in health service
The Schools Training to Enhance support for LGBT+ young People (STEP) Study
The STEP Study investigates what training is available to schools to support LGBT+ young people and how this training can be improved.
Awards
HERON is currently funded through Professor Hatch’s Wellcome Trust Investigators Award which funds the Tackling Inequalities and Discrimination Experiences in health Services (TIDES) study HERON is an evaluation partner for two Youth Access projects, “Equal Access in Mind” (funded by the Tampon Tax) and the “Youth Access Project” (funded by the National Lottery Community Fund) HERON was shortlisted in 2019 for a King’s Award for “Most Outstanding Commitment to London and Local Communities”
HERON Leadership
Professor Stephani Hatch
Professor Stephani Hatch is one of the lead co-ordinators of HERON and combines her background in sociology and psychiatric epidemiology in the Department of Psychological Medicine at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), King’s College London. Her research focuses on urban mental health and inequalities in health and health service use. She is the Principal Investigator (PI) for the Tackling Inequalities and Discrimination Experiences in health Services (TIDES) Study, funded by the Wellcome Trust and Co-PI for the Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) South East London Community Health (SELCoH) study and leads the HYPE (improving the Health of Young PeoplE) Project. Stephani is also a Co-Investigator for the ESRC funded Centre for Society and Mental Health, leading a programme focussed on Disadvantaged Communities and Mental Health.
Dr Cerisse Gunasinghe
Dr Cerisse Gunasinghe is a postdoctoral researcher and Counselling Psychologist in the Department of Psychological Medicine, IoPPN at King’s College London and is project co-ordinator for the HYPE (improving the Health of Young PeoplE) Project. Cerisse’s work is underpinned by a holistic model of care, and an appreciation of the impact of societal and cultural practices on individual experiences. Her research interests focus on reducing barriers to social and psychological support and educating community populations to help early identification and treatment of mental and physical health difficulties. Cerisse is the lead co-ordinator for UP&RUNNING and works on RISE and the Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) Youth Awards.
Dr Charlotte Woodhead
Dr Charlotte Woodhead is a Lecturer at the ESRC funded Centre for Society and Mental Health at King’s College London. Using insights from psychiatric and social epidemiology, and applied health research, her mixed methods research and public engagement activities focus on social/structural determinants of mental health inequalities. Specific interests include evaluation of complex social interventions to reduce inequalities in mental health and healthcare, including those led by communities affected; the role of the voluntary and community sector in mental health provision and equity of access; and, young adult mental health. Charlotte works across several HERON activities.
Dr Billy Gazard
Dr Billy Gazard is a Senior Research Officer at the Centre for Crime and Justice (Office for National Statistics). Billy is one of the lead co-ordinators of HERON and co-founder of the South East London Photography Group (SELPh). Billy's research interests include a focus on social determinants of health, LGBT health and mental health, health inequalities, discrimination experiences, and the impact of victimisation on mental health.
Programme Co-ordinator
Lucy Ensum
Lucy is the Programme Co-ordinator for the HERON Network, in the Department of Psychological Medicine at the IoPPN, King’s College London. Lucy is an experienced administrator and project co-ordinator, working for leading London universities since 2010. She brings over 15 years of event management skills to help with the smooth running of the HERON Network engagement activities.
Database Administrator
Shirlee MacCrimmon
Shirlee is the Research and Evaluation Manager of the HERON Network, in the Department of Psychological Medicine at the IoPPN, King’s College London. She has a BA in Psychology and a MLIS (Master of Library and Information Science). Shirlee is also the database administrator for related research projects in areas such as community health, military mental health, and integrating mental and physical health.
Research Team Collective
Nicol Bergou
Nicol is a Research Assistant in the Department of Psychological Medicine, IoPPN at King’s College London and is currently working on the Improving the Health of Young PeoplE (HYPE) Project. She has a background in Psychology and has recently completed an MSc in Psychiatric Research. Nicol also supports the delivery of the UP&RUNNING programme.
Zoe Chui
Zoe is a Research Assistant in the Department of Psychological Medicine at the IoPPN, King’s College London. She is currently working on the Tackling Inequalities and Discrimination Experiences in health Services (TIDES) Study, funded by the Wellcome Trust. She is also the lead co-ordinator for the Research methods In School Education (RISE) project.
Luke Connor
Luke joined King’s in 2019 as a Research Assistant in Psychological Medicine, he has a BSc in Psychology, and a MRes in Research Methods. Luke is currently working with the TIDES (Tackling Inequality and Discrimination Experiences in Health Services) team, and he is responsible for the management and organisation of the Virtual Reality (VR) study.
Fiyory Ghezae
Fiyory is a BSc Sport, Health and Exercise science graduate and has just completed an MSc in Mental Health Studies. She completed her personal trainer qualification three years ago and has been using it to help herself and others gain structure and enjoyment in the gym. Fiyory is a programme co-ordinator on UP&RUNNING.
Hannah Harwood
Hannah is a Research Assistant in the Department of Psychological Medicine at King’s College London’s IoPPN. She is working on the Tackling Inequalities and Discrimination Experiences in health Services (TIDES) study and is the lead co-ordinator for the South East London Photography Group (SELPh).
Katie Lambe
Katie is a Research Assistant in the Department of Psychological Medicine at the IoPPN, King’s College London. She is a member of the Improving the Health of Young PeoplE (HYPE) project team and is involved in conducting an evaluation of the impact of violence on young people (EYVI). Katie also works on the Research methods In School Education (RISE) project and supports the delivery of the UP&RUNNING programme.
Ashley McCarthy
Ashley is a Research Assistant in the Department of Psychological Medicine at the IoPPN, King’s College London. She is a member of the Improving the Health of Young PeoplE (HYPE) project team and is involved in conducting an evaluation of the impact of violence on young people (EYVI). Ashley also works with Cerisse on the Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) Youth Awards.
Dr Rebecca Rhead
Rebecca is a Research Associate at the IoPPN working on the Tackling Inequalities and Discrimination Experiences in health Services (TIDES) study. In her previous work she has used quantitative research methods to study HIV (particularly barriers to care and treatment adherence) as well as military mental health and treatment needs. Rebecca’s current work with TIDES focuses on harassment and discrimination in the NHS and taking an intersectional approach to patient healthcare inequalities. She has a PhD in Social Statistics and has been working in Psychological Medicine since 2017.
Alina Ivan
Alina is a Research Assistant in the Department of Psychological Medicine at King’s College London. She works on Remote Assessment of Disease and Relapse- Central Nervous System (RADAR-CNS) study and the Plugging In podcast series which explores how digital technologies are shaping the future of our mental health, in conversation with experts and young people. Within HERON, Alina assists with the Research methods in School Education (RISE) and SWITCH programmes.
Katie White
Katie is a research assistant in the Department of Psychological Medicine at the IoPPN, King’s College London. She conducts and manages recruitment for the major depressive disorder branch of the Remote Assessment of Disease and Relapse- Central Nervous System (RADAR-CNS) study. Katie is also co-lead on the ‘Plugging In’ podcast series, exploring the relationship between digital technologies and mental health in production with young people. Within HERON, Katie assists as a teacher and mentor in the Research methods in School Education (RISE) programme.
Gargie Ahmed
Thesis title: Contextual determinants and participant perspectives on the common mental disorders and access to psychological treatments in UK ethnic minorities: Mixed methods study utilising data from the Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Surveys (APMS) (a CASE project with the National Centre for Social Research) This mixed methods PhD will use nationally representative data to establish reasons behind the treatment gap for CMD in ethnic minority groups in the UK.
Dr Sarah Dorrington
Thesis title: Employment and health: workings of the fit note Sarah is a clinical researcher interested in life course epidemiology and health inequalities. She is doing a PhD exploring work and mental health in south east London, using health care data from primary care and secondary mental health services.
Sohail Jannesari
Thesis title: The effects of the asylum process on mental health in Iranians and Afghan asylum seekers Sohail is investigating the impact of the UK asylum process on mental health, with a particular focus on Iranian and Afghan asylum seekers. The initial part of his research will look at how researchers and work with asylum seekers in a non-exploitative, more equitable manner.
Dr Kate Polling
Thesis title: Understanding variations in self-harm rates between deprived areas in London Kate is a clinical researcher interested in health inequalities, particularly why mental health outcomes vary between different geographical areas, and how we can use routine data collected by health services to understand them. She is working on a PhD looking at how and why the rates of people coming to Emergency Departments following self-harm vary between different local areas within south east London.
Hana Riazuddin
Thesis title: Growing up during neighbourhood change: The impacts of urban regeneration on the psychosocial health of young people in South East London Hana is passionate about inequalities, art and culture, and the lives and experiences of young people in cities. This mixed-methods research aims to explore how urban regeneration impacts the psychosocial health of young people in South East London. She will be working collaboratively with young people as peer researchers on an arts-based research project to explore how they experience changes in their neighbourhood. This project is funded by the Economic Social Research Council.
Nkasi Stoll
Thesis title: Exploring the relationship between identity, university culture, and student well-being in the United Kingdom This mixed methods PhD is investigating the individual, social and institutional factors that shape students’ experiences of CMD and suicidality in the UK. Nkasi will co-design, deliver and evaluate a culturally-specific intervention with students identified as being most vulnerable to CMD and suicidality.
Sanchika Campbell
Thesis title: Religious coping and mental health: Faith, wellbeing and help-seeking among Black Majority Church members in South East London Sanchika is interested in health inequalities and Community Based Participatory Research methods. Her mixed-methods PhD aims to explore how religious coping affects mental health and help-seeking among members of Black Majority Churches in South East London. It will be guided by an advisory group and will use qualitative and quantitative research methods to address the aims. This project is funded by the Economic Social Research Council, as part of the Centre for Society and Mental Health.