Supporting the mental health and wellbeing of people with physical disabilities
Funding organisation: Swedish Research Council.
Principle Investigator: (UCD) Dr Alan Maddock, Asst. Prof. in Social Work, UCD School of Social Policy, Social Work and Social Justice.
Background
Cambodia has had the highest proportions of disabled people in the world because of political conflicts that left the country with a high number of landmines in the 1960s and 70s. These have since remained for decades and injured a large part of the population.
Individuals with disabilities face many obstacles in low- and middle-income countries. There may be limited access to care, education, and other employment opportunities in either the mainstream labour market or in self-employment. Together, these obstacles pose a greater risk for poverty. People with disabilities also have a greater risk of experiencing a secondary health, physical or mental health problems. These people are often among the poorest of the poor. Therefore, researchers will address the poorest and most vulnerable individuals who have a combination of physical and mental disorders.
This project builds on earlier research co-led by Dr Alan Maddock and funded by the UK Royal society Global Challenges Funding scheme which supports cutting-edge international research that promotes the economic development and welfare of people in developing countries. On foot of this research Sweden, Northern Ireland, Ireland, and Cambodia have now received funding from the Swedish Research Council to conduct a study on supporting mental health of people with physical disabilities in Cambodia. In addition to Dr Alan Maddock this team includes Professor Nerrolyn Ramstrand, Jönköping University (Sweden), Dr. Paul Best, Queen’s University (Northern Ireland), Dr Nil Ean, Royal University of Phnom Penh and Sisary Kheng, Exceed-Worldwide (Cambodia).
Aims and objectives
The research project aims to implement mental health screening and intervention programmes at the three Exceed Worldwide Comprehensive Physical Rehabilitation Centres in Cambodia and to support clients’ mental health through peer support and mindfulness programmes of support. The overall objective is to develop and implement a sustainable mental health screening and support program for people with physical disabilities who also have mental health problems and thereby improve their health and well-being. In so doing it is expected that the project can increase the opportunity for them to participate in society in a more equal and equitable way and reduce the risk of them living in poverty. It is hoped to be able to transfer the program for use in other low- and middle-income countries.
Timescale and Outputs
The project will be conducted from 2022-24. The findings from this research project will be published in five open access international peer reviewed journals. The findings from this research project will also be disseminated at relevant international research conferences which focus on disability, mental health, social work, and prosthetics and orthotics. The awardees will also disseminate the findings through policy briefs and presentations to the Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation and the Ministry of Health in Cambodia.
For more information please contact Dr Alan Maddock. Email: (opens in a new window)Alan.Maddock@ucd.ie