Research Assistantship: Mental Disorders among Refugees

Introduction to the topic

According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), 117.3 million people were forcibly displaced globally “as a result of persecution, conflict, generalized violence, or human rights violations” by the end of 2023. Among them, 44.6 million people were refugees and asylum seekers who commonly experience traumatic events such as torture and the loss of their loved ones while migrating. Many, if not all, face difficult life circumstances even after reaching a safer place due to unknown language, financial troubles, and discrimination. These vulnerabilities may negatively affect their mental health.

Project details

Several studies showed a marked rise in the prevalence of mental disorders among refugees. However, there has yet to be an adequate review comparing prevalence rates between refugees and natives/non-refugee immigrants, which, if found, could lead to effective screening and treatment of refugees through prioritization and the development of specialist services. Therefore, this project aims to evaluate the prevalence and relative risk of mental disorders among refugees using a systematic review – a method that lies at the top of the evidence hierarchy.

In your role as a Research Assistant, you will conduct eligibility checks, review of original articles, and data extraction tasks. Moreover, you will learn the different phases of a systematic review project, from conceptualization to dissemination of the findings, and a whole lot in between. As a pair of DIS Research Assistants, you will be a part of a highly skilled international team of researchers from Sweden, the UK, and Austria.

There will be three modules in this Research Assistantship. You will learn about the theoretical and practical aspects of the project in the first Module. Conducting the review will be the focus of Module Two. In the final Module, you will write a report based on your work.

Selected relevant publications

Patanè M et al. Prevalence of mental disorders in refugees and asylum seekers: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Glob Ment Health. 2022;9:250-263 doi: https://doi.org/10.1017/gmh.2022.29
Amin R et al. Country of birth, time period of resettlement and subsequent treated common mental disorders in young refugees in Sweden. Eur J Public Health. 2020 Dec 11;30(6):1169-1175 doi: https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckaa140
Amin R et al. Suicide attempt and suicide in refugees in Sweden – a nationwide population-based cohort study. Psychol Med. 2021;51(2):254-263 doi: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291719003167

Additional application required

You must submit an additional application through the Online Registration portal.

All application materials must be submitted on the following dates by midnight in your time zone:

November 1 for spring semester applicants
May 1 for fall semester applicants

Complete your application through Student Registration.

Syllabus

Spring 2025

Go to syllabus

This is a draft syllabus. The final syllabus will be available here a few days prior to the new course’s first start date.

Faculty

Ridwanul Amin

Faculty

Ridwan investigates the associations between migration status, social marginalisation and suicidal behaviour. He obtained his PhD and MSc in Public Health (Epidemiology) from Karolinska Institutet, Sweden in 2021 and 2016, respectively. Ridwan graduated as an MD from the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh in 2010. As a physician, he worked on projects aimed at improving child and adolescent health in Bangladesh during 2011-2014. With DIS since December 2021.

Research Assistantship FAQ (this will be replaced by a Pattern Block in the future so all RAships will be linked and updated in one location.

Learn more about research at DIS.

: Earning authorship within the course of a semester is challenging. Exceptional Research Assistants may be considered for co-authorship, subject to evaluation from the supervising Research Mentor.

Though you may not ultimately become an author on a published paper, you will gain many practical skills and insights into the publication process.

: Many research projects last across several semesters, so not all RAs on the same project will conduct the same research.

: On average, students in 3-credit Research Assistantships spend at least 10 hours a week on research tasks. These 10 hours per week consist of a variety of different research-related tasks, including conducting a literature review, data collection, analyses, coding, documentation, and meetings with your mentor. You may decide on a particular block of time (consistent each week) for you to carry out the work, or adjust it on a week-by-week basis.

Students in a 6-credit Research Assistantships spend an average of 20 hours per week with lab and clinically based research tasks. You decide the exact meeting and lab times with your supervisor, but your schedule consists of classes at DIS two days a week, with two days a week in the lab.

There may be peak times in the research process where all Research Assistant students are expected to spend a few more hours, and then possibly fewer hours another week – to reflect the individual research project and process.

: Work for the 3-credit Research Assistantships may take place outside DIS, on your own time at a location of your choosing, or at DIS – this varies from project to project. The 6-credit research assistantships generally take place at labs in Copenhagen or Stockholm outside DIS.

: Students with a variety of academic backgrounds are encouraged to apply for the 3-credit Research Assistant course. While some courses do have prerequisites, many opportunities do not require prior research experience.

The 6-credit Research Assistant opportunity is designed for highly motivated students who have a strong science background within the field of interest and some basic research experience. The student must be willing to commit a large portion of their semester to an engaging opportunity involving hands-on research in universities and medical institutes in Copenhagen or Stockholm.

Introduction to the topic

Project details

Additional application required

Syllabus

Spring 2025

Faculty

Ridwanul Amin

Research Assistantship FAQ (this will be replaced by a Pattern Block in the future so all RAships will be linked and updated in one location.

Will I publish a research paper?

What exactly will I do?

What is the time commitment for a 3-credit or 6-credit Research Assistantship?

Where is the research work carried out?

What type of student applies for the 3- and 6-credit Research Assistant courses?