Society and Workplace Diversity Research Group

30/09/2026

🇰🇪 Research Carnival on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Nairobi

Gro Mjeldheim Sandal and Alaa Al-Nasser from our research group had the pleasure of participating in the 2nd Research Carnival on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) in Nairobi, Kenya, held from 23–25 September.

They presented “Protecting the Well-Being of Local Humanitarian Workers: Evidence from Peer Refugee Helpers in Greece and Aid Workers in Gaza,” as part of the discussions on Indigenous Knowledge and Approaches to the Protection of Humanitarian Workers.

The carnival provided an important space to discuss ongoing work related to Gaza and peer helpers in Greece , exchange perspectives with researchers and practitioners from different contexts, and build networks for future research and collaboration.

And beyond the inspiring academic discussions, the trip to Kenya also offered the opportunity to experience a safari and discover the country’s incredible wildlife and natural beauty. 🦒🌿

18/09/2026

"Nobody is safe until everyone is safe"

A BIG congratulations to Pierina for the successful defense of her PhD thesis today! 🎉

Pierina's research provides important insights into how the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated existing social and health inequalities between migrant groups and non-migrants. Through a series of studies, her thesis documents group differences over time in psychological distress, loneliness, life satisfaction, and challenges related to adhering to non-pharmaceutical interventions such as social distancing and quarantine measures.

Her findings remind us that while the pandemic was a shared global experience, its consequences were not equally distributed. Social circumstances, access to resources, and structural inequalities shaped how different groups experienced and coped with the crisis.

As Pierina concludes, the results highlight the importance of integrating equity strategies into crisis preparedness and response efforts. Public health emergencies affect populations differently, and effective responses must recognize and address the needs of diverse communities to protect population health.

Congratulations, Pierina, on this remarkable achievement. It has been a privilege to follow your development as a researcher. We look forward to seeing the impact of your research in the years ahead!!

15/09/2026

We were delighted to welcome Ella Heimonen, a doctoral researcher from the University of Eastern Finland, to the Society and Workplace Diversity Research Group in September.

Ella’s PhD research explores the factors that shape the formation and development of intergroup friendships within a Finnish befriending programme. 🤝

During her visit, Ella presented her PhD research and introduced the FriendMUM project, in which she is involved.

We are grateful for the opportunity to exchange ideas and strengthen our research connections. Thank you, Ella, for visiting us and sharing your work! 🌍✨

18/06/2026

Interessant artikkel om forskningen til Hege Høivik Bye om kjønnsforskjeller i hjelpsøking for psykiske plager.

Både menn og kvinner undervurderer hvor villige menn er til å oppsøke hjelp.

09/06/2026

Humanitarian aid workers continue to face increasing risks in crisis settings, along with significant psychological strain linked to exposure to insecurity, violence, and traumatic events. Strengthening research on their protection, well-being, and resilience remains essential.

We are pleased to announce a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Protect Humanitarians, the University of Liège, and the research group led by Professor Gro Mjeldheim Sandal at the Faculty of Psychology, University of Bergen.

This agreement is further strengthened by the integration of 21 partner organizations and universities, expanding an international network committed to advancing research and collaboration on humanitarian worker protection.

By bridging academic expertise and humanitarian practice, this collaboration aims to generate evidence-based approaches that better support those working in high-risk humanitarian environments.

11/05/2026

We are truly delighted to share that Dr. Samah Jabr will be visiting Bergen next week, in connection with receiving an honorary doctorate at the University of Bergen.

On 🗓 *May 20 | 13:45–15:00, Room 129, Christiesgt 12, Gro Mjeldheim Sandal and Ali Teymoori will have the pleasure of engaging in a conversation with Dr. Jabr about her seminal work on the psychological consequences of occupation and political violence among Palestinians.

Dr. Jabr is a highly respected Palestinian consultant psychiatrist, psychotherapist, and writer, with a strong and longstanding commitment to her community. Her work offers powerful insights into how structural and political violence shape mental health both individually and collectively.

This is a rare and meaningful opportunity to learn from her perspectives and experiences, and I hope many will join us for what I believe will be an important and thought‑provoking conversation.

Unik mulighet til å høre overlege, psykoterapeut og skribent Dr. Samah Jabr i hennes æresdoktorforedrag Tårnsalen, Universitetsmuseet 20. mai kl. 10.00–10.45! 👇👇👇
Hør henne også i samtale med Gro M. Sandal og Ali Teymoori på ettermiddagen (På engelsk/In English).

⚜️kl. 10.00–10.45: Æresdoktorforedrag i Tårnsalen, Universitetsmuseet
⚜️kl. 13.45–15.00: Samtale i Auditorium 129, Christies gate 12

Dr. Samah Jabr utnevnes til æresdoktor ved UiB i 2026.

Jabr er en fremtredende palestinsk overlege i psykiatri, psykoterapeut og skribent med et sterkt engasjement i lokalsamfunnet. Hun er særlig kjent for sitt arbeid med de psykologiske konsekvensene av Israels okkupasjon og krigføring i Palestina for palestinere.
Jabr arbeider nå ved George Washington University. og er rådgiver for FNs kontor for narkotika og kriminalitet (UNODC), Redd Barna og Leger Uten Grenser (MSF)
Mer info i kommentarfeltet 👇👇👇
Redd Barna Leger Uten Grenser Fagutvalget for psykologi UiB - PSF

08/05/2026

Yesterday marked a memorable and proud moment for our research group as Michalis Lavdas successfully defended their PhD on mental health among peer refugee helpers in Greece. The auditorium was full, and Michalis delivered a captivating and insightful defense that clearly engaged and impressed the audience.

It has been a privilege to have Michalis in our research group, and we are grateful for all the insights, perspectives, and enthusiasm Michalis has shared during their PhD journey.

Congratulations, Michalis!✨️🎉✨️

30/04/2026

🎓 Big event alert - PhD Defence of Michalis

We are excited to share that Michalis Lavdas will defend their PhD next week, on 7 May at 09:15.

We believe the topic of their dissertation will be of interest to many of our followers: 📌 Mental health among refugees helping other refugees.

The studies included in the dissertation are situated in the Greek context and focus on psychological well‑being, resilience, and the crucial role of community support under conditions of displacement and adversity.

If you live in, or are visiting, Bergen at this time, we warmly encourage you to take the opportunity to attend the PhD defence.
The dissertation is open to the public and will be in English. We wish Michalis all the best of luck with the PhD defense.

Michalis Lavdas disputerer 7.5.2026 for ph.d.-graden ved Universitetet i Bergen med avhandlingen "Refugees Helping Refugees: Mental Health Implications for Peer Refugee Helpers in Greece".

20/01/2026

Today, we received wonderful news: the University of Bergen has decided to award an honorary doctorate to Dr. Samah Jabr (photo), whom we had the privilege of nominating. Dr. Jabr is an outstanding psychiatrist and writer who has long illuminated the psychological consequences of war and occupation in Palestine. Her work combines medical expertise with activism, consistently highlighting the mental‑health impacts of colonial violence, torture, trauma, and prolonged conflict. We are confident that she will bring important insights to our team and to the faculty. A heartfelt thank you to the University of Bergen for recognizing her invaluable contributions and for supporting the important work ahead.
https://www.uib.no/.../ten-new-honorary-doctorates-uib

13/01/2026

We are thrilled to welcome Alaa Alnasser as a new PhD candidate! 🎓✨ Alaa will be working on an innovative project focused on strengthening the psychological health of local humanitarian workers in Gaza—a mission that couldn’t be more important.
Originally from Jordan, Alaa brings a wealth of experience from years of dedicated work in Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) within humanitarian settings, especially in refugee contexts. Her expertise and passion will be an asset to our team, and we look forward to mutual learning and collaboration in the years ahead. A heartfelt thank you to the University of Bergen for the funding, and especially to Rector Margareth Hagen for her support in making this possible. 💙
Please join us in giving Alaa a warm welcome! 💙