³ÉÈËÖ±²¥

Two of the most pressing global health issues, Climate Change and Antimicrobial Resistance are beginning to intersect and promise to wreak havoc on global health. What are the current challenges of the intersection of these two crises and how will populations manage and adapt to these new challenges? This bursary will support research that builds the evidence base of the challenges, interventions, and needed adaptations to this developing field of research.

For more information, contact: Dr Paul Kadetz (PKadetz@qmu.ac.uk)

Mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) in emergency and conflict situations faces a significant challenge in implementation globally. To maximize effectiveness, existing support programs must be culturally appropriate and leverage communities' inherent coping mechanisms.

A critical focus is understanding how faith-based beliefs, practices, and communities contribute to coping strategies among understudied populations. This includes examining the relationship between cultural and faith-based adaptations of interventions and their impact on well-being outcomes.

IGHD, supported by a 25-member advisory group of academic, UN, NGO, and policy experts, has launched a five-year initiative to strengthen the evidence base and develop practitioner tools. The bursary will support doctoral research that that advances the aims of the five-year initiative in regards to expanding research on the 'role' of faith in coping among understudied groups and the impact (if any) on the efficacy of interventions when adaptations for culture and faith are made. Preference will be given to researchers seeking to examine the associations between outcomes and adaptations to community-based and/or structured interventions (such as WHO's PM+, for example, or locally developed structured approaches that have potential for scalability).  

For more information, please contact: Dr Kathleen Rutledge (KRutledge@qmu.ac.uk)

Climate change increasingly adds to community vulnerability to hazards, with marginalized groups facing the highest risks during crises. While research has documented the link between climate change and mental health challenges, there's limited understanding of effective community-based adaptation strategies and their impact on mental well-being and social cohesion.

This doctoral research opportunity focuses on two key areas: evaluating the effectiveness of health and mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) strategies in building community climate resilience, and examining how these interventions affect individual and social well-being outcomes.

Priority will be given to research projects that:

• Focus on communities in Scotland, UK, or low/middle-income countries
• Take a holistic approach to well-being, including mental health and social cohesion
• Address marginalized groups alongside mainstream populations
• Partner with community-level organizations, government departments, or health systems

For more information, please contact: Dr Kathleen Rutledge (KRutledge@qmu.ac.uk)

Migrant girls, women and children face multiple barriers ranging from limited access to healthcare and social services that can compromise their overall health and well-being. Existing frameworks and guidelines mainly focus on supporting migrant or refugee integration and for meeting their health needs in destination countries (WHO, 2018). As few students have explored the maternal healthcare experiences of migrant women and children, particularly those with disabilities and in LMICs, this bursary will fill this gap by exploring the determinants of MNCH among migrants and propose solutions that would improve the basic health needs of this population.  

For more information, please contact Dr Esther Azasi (EAzasi@qmu.ac.uk)