We are pleased to announce that we have three new convenors to chair the Mental Health Special Interest Group Hannah, Laura and Sonia:

 

Hannah Jobling is a senior lecturer in social work at the University of York, UK.  She has a longstanding interest in mental health social work, particularly the relational application of control in practice.  She also has broader interests in mental health and well-being, including community based approaches to social support and the social drivers of mental health difficulties for young people.  

 

Email: hannah.jobling@york.ac.uk

 

Laura Tucker is a Research Fellow in the Mental Health Social Care Research Centre at the University of York in England and the Practitioner Research Lead in the NIHR Research Support Service Specialist Centre for Social Care (RSS SCSC).  She is a qualified social worker and spent 15 years in practice both pre- and post-qualification working in different mental health settings before moving into academia.  Her research focuses on the role of social work in mental health practice and on mental health social interventions in marginalised and excluded communities and she previously taught on the Think Ahead fast track qualifying programme for social workers specialising in mental health.  Within the RSS SCSC she leads a national programme aimed at increasing research capacity in social care practice across adults, children's and mental health services.

 

Email: laura.tucker@york.ac.uk

 

Sonia Omer is currently serving as an Associate Professor in the Department of Social Work at the University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan. She also holds the position of Director at the Sughra Begum Centre for Education Policy and Development at the same university .A dedicated and accomplished researcher, Dr. Omer’s academic interests span a wide range of social issues, including gender studies, social policy, entrepreneurship, socio-economic development, population and demography, child rights, and community development. She has numerous research publications to her credit; published in Higher Education Commission of pakistan (HEC) recognized journals and international impact factor journals. Dr. Omer is also a well-regarded motivational speaker, frequently appearing on national television to discuss pressing social challenges and advocate for policy reforms. She has published number of articles in leading newspapers too. Her passion for research and academic exchange has led her to visit and present at prestigious universities and international conferences in the United Kingdom, United States, Germany, and Nairobi. In addition to her academic and media engagements, she plays an active role in civil society. She serves as a board member and director for several well-known non-governmental organizations, including AHAGE and AGAHE Pakistan.

Email: sonia.dsw@pu.edu.pk