Congratulations to Dr Narinder Bansal on "Professional of the Year"

Dr Narinder Bansal, Epidemiologist, Global Health Academy Fellow, and Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Edinburgh, has been named ‘Professional of the Year’ at the 2014 Scottish Asian Women’s Awards.

The award ceremony, hosted by the Scottish Asian Women’s Association and held at Hampden Park Glasgow, celebrates the achievements of inspiring and successful women in Scotland’s Asian community. Over the past six years, Narinder’s work at the University of Edinburgh has focused on exploring and tackling health inequalities in Scotland, particularly helping to fill an important information gap by producing the first data on the health of minority ethnic groups in relation to cardiovascular disease, cancer, maternal and child health and mental health.

Narinder is passionate about improving knowledge and awareness of mental health particularly in minority ethnic groups in Scotland.

‘We know that there are difficulties in diagnosing and treating people from minority ethnic groups such as the Chinese and South Asians at an early stage. This is partly due to a lack of knowledge and awareness of mental illness and the support services available and a reluctance to seek medical help due to social stigma’.

Narinder will be leading a new MOOC on Global Mental Health for the Global Health Academy.

Outside the university, Narinder volunteers her time in the community in various capacities to raise awareness, share knowledge, and support the work of local BME mental health organisations.