The research project in Cambodia aims to implement mental health screening at the three Exceed Worldwide Comprehensive Physical Rehabilitation Centres in Cambodia and to support clients’ mental health through peer support programs. 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,” Nerrolyn Ramstrand explains.
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.
“Our overall objective is to develop and implement a sustainable screening and support program for people with physical disabilities who also have mental health problems and thereby improve their health and well-being. We believe 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. At a later stage we also want to be able to transfer the program for use in other low- and middle-income countries. Then more people can be helped,” says Nerrolyn Ramstrand.
Recipients of the grant are:
Professor Nerrolyn Ramstrand, Jönköping University, Sweden
Dr Nil Ean, Royal University of Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Sisary Kheng, Exceed-Worldwide, Cambodia
Dr. Alan Maddock, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland
Dr. Paul Best, Queen’s University, UK
