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Zara Asif

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

See Zara's research profile

    Research

    Direction
    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

    RP network - new banner
    Refugee Mental Health and Place Network

    Network exploring post-migration and refugee mental health

    NMS thumbnail
    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...

    People in a Street

    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...

    MHPSS Hero 2

    Events

    06Mar

    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.

    01Nov

    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

    Artwork from the Not My Shame Zine

    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-julie-ricard-MX0erXb3Mms-unsplash

    Refugee Mental Health and The Role of Place

    Reflections from our networking workshop: “Refugee Mental Health and The Role of Place"

    A row of tents in a refugee camp.

      Research

      Direction
      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

      RP network - new banner
      Refugee Mental Health and Place Network

      Network exploring post-migration and refugee mental health

      NMS thumbnail
      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...

      People in a Street

      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...

      MHPSS Hero 2

      Events

      06Mar

      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.

      01Nov

      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

      Artwork from the Not My Shame Zine

      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-julie-ricard-MX0erXb3Mms-unsplash

      Refugee Mental Health and The Role of Place

      Reflections from our networking workshop: “Refugee Mental Health and The Role of Place"

      A row of tents in a refugee camp.