Farah Ahmed is a PhD student in the Centre for Society and Mental Health and E-Risk Study Engagement Officer in the Social, Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Centre.

Project title: A mixed methods study exploring the long-term effects of poor-quality, insecure urban housing on the mental health of racially minoritized groups in London

There is a striking absence of evidence relating to the interplay of housing deprivation with mental health, particularly for ethnic minority groups. To address this knowledge gap, Farah's project will use a sequential mixed methods design, employing quantitative secondary data analysis of a nationally representative cohort of 10,000 young adults to understand ethnic inequalities in mental health faced by people experiencing poor housing and insecure tenure. Map-based data visualisations will inform the sampling of residents in high deprivation housing. A comparative qualitative study will be conducted in two contrasting ‘hotspots’ or areas of London with high housing deprivation through prior mapping work, with people who self-identify as a racial minority and have experienced housing issues

Farah's PhD is funded by the ESRC LISS-DTP Case scheme. The project has been developed in collaboration with Thrive LDN, a citywide public mental health partnership tackling the wider determinants of mental health and wellbeing in London.

Prior to beginning her PhD, Farah studied BSc Psychology an went on to complete an MSc in Population Health at University College London. Farah has also worked as a Research Assistant in the Health Inequalities Research Group led by Professor Stephani Hatch. 

Research interests

• Urban Mental Health
• Housing 
• Health inequalities 
• Inclusion health 
• Social determinants of health