May 2025 / Rauf

Social Return on Investment - Evaluating Social Value

Allied Manchester Business School (AMBS) student volunteers and the RCCP at Ethnic Health Forum organised a discussion at the University of Manchester where students from AMBS presented a case study of "Happy Homes Project - a perinatal psychosocial family support programme" delivered by the Ethnic Health Forum from May 2023 until March 2025. The presentation discussed in detail how to understand and evaluate the social value impact of the investment. The workshop was attended by a larger audience including University of Manchester researchers and representatives from VCFSE sector organisations.

April 2025 / Rauf

Dr Hafsa Meraj joins the RCCP

Dr. Hafsa Meraj is a Specialty Doctor in General Psychiatry who recently joined EHF as a Research Fellow within our Research Capacity & capability Programme (RCCP). She has a front-line clinical experience, postgraduate training in clinical psychiatry and portfolio of peer-reviewed publications in psychiatry. Her interest falls within digital and preventive mental-health interventions which are both clinically robust and culturally responsive.

Oct 2024 / Khalifa

Bipolar Intervention Discussion

The University of Manchester is proud to host an upcoming discussion centred on an important mental health initiative: adapted Psychoeducation (CaPE) for British African and Caribbean Bipolar Patients in the UK. This discussion, scheduled for October 17th, 2024, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM, will explore how tailored interventions can better address the needs of British African and Caribbean communities dealing with bipolar disorder. This event is not just an academic discussion; it is an opportunity to hear from those who have experienced bipolar disorder first-hand and from professionals working closely with these communities. RCCP fellows were part of organising this event.

September 2024 / Khalifa

Rima Nserat joins the RCCP as Arab World & MENA region Coordinator

Rima Talal Mahmoud Nserat is an accomplished biomedical scientist with a master of science in Cellular Pathology from Manchester Metropolitan University and a dedicated professional in global health and cultural psychiatry. As the Arab World Coordinator for the Manchester Global Mental Health and Cultural Psychiatry Research Group, she fosters cross-cultural research and capacity-building initiatives in the Arab region. She is also a Global Ethics Learning Hub member. With over two decades of service in the Royal Medical Services of the Jordanian Armed Forces, she advanced to Consultant in Biomedical Sciences and Head of the Cytopathology Laboratory. An accomplished researcher and speaker, she has published on topics such as thyroid carcinoma and diagnostic cytology, while earning multiple awards, including the Royal Medical Services Excellence Certificate in 2023. Fluent in Arabic and English, Rima builds global networks, advancing healthcare across Jordan, the UK, and beyond.

August 2024 / Khalifa

Transformative Day - Discussion on mental health in African and Caribbean communities

On 13/08/2024, the event brought together passionate individuals dedicated to breaking the silence around mental health. The event was a resounding success, filled with heartfelt stories, insightful discussions, and powerful recommendations that we hope will shape the future of mental health advocacy in our communities. As we gathered, it became clear that this was more than just a discussion; it was a movement toward collective healing and empowerment. We encourage all attendees to stay in touch and continue the dialogue. For those who wish to follow up or share further thoughts, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at khalifafofana99@gmail.com. Your voices are crucial as we move forward, and we look forward to working together to bring about meaningful change.

August 2024 / Hanif

Meeting with Cultural and Psychiatry Group Lead

EHF Chief officer & RCCP Staff in meeting with Professor Nusrat Hussain, Professor of Psychiatry at University of Manchester, discussing future collaboration and working closely with RCCP - Research Capacity and Capability Programme hosted at the Ethnic Health Forum. EHF was invited to participate and send staff to present and share community oriented projects during Thursday Journal Club at University of Manchester.

Aug 2024 / Khalifa

Discussion about mental health within African and Caribbean communities

A discussion is taking place on 13th August 2024 between 10:30 am to 12:00 pm at Room 3.332, Jean Mcfarlane Building, the University of Manchester. The aim of the discussion is to discuss and address the unique mental health challenges faced by African and Carribbean individuals in our community. To register for the event, Click here

July 2024 / Dr Atta Asif

NIHR Statistical Group for the Role of Statistics as PPIE

RCCP Fellow participated in the PPIE Meets Statistics Event at the University of Oxford, which was chaired by Sue Duncombe, PPI Patient Co-Lead. The event discussed the role of statistics in PPIE activity and how can it be helpful in exploring useful insights from the group of people with lived expereinces. The event helped in enhancing the understanding of introducing statistical collaboration with PPIE in research.

May 2024 / Dr Atta Asif

RCCP attended Advanced Statistical Design to empower Biomarker Driven Clinical Trials

RCCP Fellow Dr Atta participated in the training/workshop about Innovative statistical designs and analysis strategies in clinical trials research, held at the University of Bath. Professor Jack Lee was the keynote speaker on the day, who shared his expereince about application of statistics in cancer research and advanced trials designs.

April 2024 / Dr Atta Asif

NIHR statistics Group Meeting - London

RCCP Lead Statistician Dr Atta Asif attended the NIHR Statistics Group meeting held at Moorefield Eye Hospital, London in April 2024. The meeting discussed the role of statistics in ophthalmological research studies. The key speaker was Catey Bunce, RM CTU Manager (Statistics and Training) at Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London, who also chaired the sessions.

Feb 2024 / Ongoing Research- Dr Mahadev

Systematic review on the relationship between genomics and psychosis

The project titled "Systematic Review on the Relationship Between Genomics and Psychosis" aims to investigate the intricate interplay between genetic factors and psychosis, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and other related conditions. Through a meticulous examination of existing literature, this systematic review seeks to elucidate the genetic variants, pathways, and mechanisms implicated in the development and progression of psychosis. By synthesising findings from diverse studies, including genome-wide association studies, candidate gene analyses, and functional genomics research, the project intends to uncover novel insights into the genetic underpinnings of psychosis. Furthermore, this review will explore potential gene-environment interactions and genetic risk profiles associated with psychosis susceptibility and treatment response. The ultimate goal of this project is to advance our understanding of the genetic basis of psychosis and pave the way for personalised approaches to prevention, diagnosis, and treatment in psychiatric care.

Jan 2024 / Ongoing Research - Dr Atta

Social Exclusion and loneliness and their impact on mental health and well-being

This project if basically based on longitudinal survey, called Understanding Society, dataset for thirteen waves for UK population. We mainly have the focus on the construction of social exclusion and loneliness based on different dimensions, like environmental dimension, social dimension and socio-cultural dimension etc. The main outcome of this project is the Mental Health and Well-being, and the objective is to look at the associations among social exclusion and loneliness and the outcome variable. We have also encountered the different ethnic groups in this analysis and would like to focus the possible variation in mental health and well-being among different ethnic minority groups in UK.

Oct 2023 / Rauf

Dr Mahadev joins RCCP

Dr. Mahadev, PhD, is a dedicated researcher with extensive expertise in genetics and molecular biology. With a rich academic background, Dr. Mahadev has taught a range of courses, fostering a deep understanding of complex scientific concepts. As a research consultant at the Ethnic Health Forum, he plays a pivotal role in driving impactful research initiatives. Currently, Dr. Mahadev is leading projects focused on conducting systematic reviews on the ethno-psychopharmacological aspects of psychosis and the relationship between genomics and psychosis. His dedication to advancing scientific knowledge underscores his commitment to improving health outcomes for diverse communities. With expertise in identifying genetic associations and a keen interest in exploring the intersection of genomics and mental health, Dr. Mahadev is at the forefront of cutting-edge research at EHF, driving positive change in healthcare practices.

Oct 2023 / Ongoing Research - Dr Atta

Individual and contextual effects of domestic violence: a multilevel analysis

This project is based on some large data sets like Demographic and Health Survey’s data set and the aim is to provide some descriptive analysis of domestic violence (DV) in Low & Middle Income Countries’ (LMICs), like Pakistan. Also, the in-depth analysis of the DV and affecting factors both at micro levels and macro levels. Based on some useful statistical methods I would expect to give useful policy implications that could be helpful to overcome the DV issues.

Aug 2023 / Rauf

Dr Atta M Asif joins RCCP

Dr Atta primary area of research has had a focus on the statistical and analytical modelling of maternal and child healthcare and health inequalities in Low and middle-income countries (LMICs). He has conducted research on childhood malnutrition, childhood vaccination coverage, child’s dietary patterns and investigated their relationship with maternal education, empowerment and socio-economic indicators. Quantifying the socio-economic inequalities in maternal and child health and their contributory factors also remained the part of his research work. He is expereinced of working with Generalised logistic Models, Multilevel Regression modelling, Nested logit Regression, Recentred Influence Function (RIF) Regression Analysis, Concentration Curves, Concentration indices and Wagstaff’s, Erreyger’s and Oaxaca-blinder type Decomposition analysis.

Aug 2023 / Ongoing Research - Dr Mo

Barriers and enablers to the use of Digital Mental Health Interventions among patients with mental disorders with physical health comorbidity in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Scoping Review

Health risk behaviours are more prevalent among individuals with severe mental difficulties, rendering them equally vulnerable to physical health conditions like cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, and diabetes. This leads to multimorbidity, significantly impacting lives with disability and reduced quality of life, particularly challenging in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Digital Mental Health (DMH) interventions, encompassing mobile apps and remote platforms, offer promise in reducing symptoms of mental disorders and improving medication adherence. Despite potential benefits, LMICs face barriers in implementing DMH technologies. Addressing these, our research aims to: 1) Examine how DMH concepts are operationalized and what interventions are tested for patients with mental disorders and physical comorbidities in LMICs, 2) Identify barriers and facilitators of DMH intervention use among patients with mental disorder and physical comorbidities in LMICs. This study therefore seeks to bridge knowledge gaps, informing clinical practice, education, and policymaking in integrating DMH for holistic care.

Aug 2023 / Rauf

Dr Nadeem joins RCCP

Dr Nadeem, holds MBBS and completed his NIHR doctoral training from University of Central Lancashire. He has a keen interest in digital technology and mental health.

May 2023 / Ongoing Research - Dr Mo

Systematic review on the ethno-psychopharmacological aspects of psychosis

The project aims to comprehensively explore and analyse the cultural and pharmacological factors influencing the treatment of psychosis, particularly among individuals of diverse ethnic backgrounds. Through rigorous systematic reviews of existing literature, this project seeks to identify patterns, disparities, and potential solutions in the pharmacological management of psychosis within different cultural contexts. By synthesising evidence from a range of sources, including clinical trials, ethnographic studies, and pharmacogenomic research, the project intends to provide valuable insights into optimising treatment strategies and addressing disparities in mental healthcare delivery. Ultimately, the findings of this project have the potential to inform clinical practice, policy development, and future research directions in the field of ethno-psychopharmacology, with the overarching goal of improving mental health outcomes for diverse populations worldwide.

April 2023 / Rauf

Dr Nang Mo Hom joins RCCP

Dr Mo is a medical doctor from Myanmar, who holds a Master of Public Health from BRAC Universtiy, Bangladesh. For the past 15 years, she has worked mainly as a public health professional in Myanmar, Bangladesh and Nepal. As a researcher, monitoring and evaluation officer, program manager and technical coordinator, Mo particularly focused on Reproductive Health, HIV/STI. Maternal and Child Health. Bringing in her vast experiences in managing qualitative research and public health programs for vulnerable populations and ethnic population living in remote areas of the countries.

Mar 2023 / Rauf

Dr Razia Sultana joins RCCP

Dr Razia Sultana completed her PhD in Clinical Psychology from the University of Manchester. In her PhD, she investigated barriers and facilitators to help-seeking behaviours of British South Asian Women with lived experience domestic violence. She completed BSc Psychology and two Masters in Clinical Psychology and Public Mental Health from the University of Dhaka and American International University, Bangladesh. She also completed postgraduation in Mental Health Service and Population Research from King's College London. Her special research interest lies in ethnic minority, health inequalities, domestic violence and abuse.

Mar 2023 / Rauf

A research collaboration with Manchester Global Foundation (MGF):

Ethnic Health Forum has always contributed in the academic research around minority ethnic communities and our research participation is an evidence what we have achieved so far in this context. However, under the restructuring of digital data capture, as an active service provider we collect client data that could contribute in Community Research.

Under this role, we have partnered with a leading organisation Manchester Global Foundation (MGF), which is a team of researchers who are keen in conducting academic work while acknowledging the importance of VCSE sector in research contribution and dissemination to the relevant sections of minority ethnic populations.

For MGF details, Click here.

April 2023 / Rauf

Development of Research Capacity & Capability Programme (RCCP):

The Ethnic Health Forum launched the Research Capacity and Capability Programme (RCCP) in 2023 to enhance its ability to conduct high-quality research, informing and improving its health and social care community programs. The RCCP seeks to foster a research-oriented environment, encouraging staff participation in research activities to augment services. Its overarching objective is establishing a sustainable research culture that elevates program quality and efficacy, addressing health disparities among minority ethnic communities.