Institute for Health and Human Development

Dr Lorna Sweeney

Position: Research Fellow

Telephone: +44 (0) 20 8223 4530

Fax: +44 (0)20 8223 4282

Email: l.sweeney@uel.ac.uk

Contact Address:

IHHD, UH250
Stratford Campus
University of East London
Water Lane
London
E15 4LZ

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Brief Biography:

I graduated with a degree in Psychology (Trinity College Dublin) and subsequently spent a number of years working as part of a multi-disciplinary team at the Geary Institute (University College Dublin); on a variety of research projects related to health risk, health behaviour patterns and ageing. I have also been employed as a qualitative researcher by the Mental Health Commission Ireland and the ‘Preparing for Life’ programme (University College Dublin), to conduct process evaluations of community-based services/ interventions.

I have recently completed a PhD in Public Health (University College Dublin & St. Vincent’s University Hospital Dublin), which identified key factors in the response to psychological distress and suicide risk within young male social networks, and explored the outcomes of peer suicide bereavement for young adult males. My research aimed to inform the development of community-based mental health and suicide prevention strategies to strengthen lay responses to risk.

Summary of Expertise/ Areas of interest:

• Qualitative methods for public health research
• Mental Health
• Lay understanding of health and illness
• The role of social networks in health and illness behaviour patterns
• Cultural determinants of health and illness behaviour patterns

Current and recently completed projects:

From December 2011, I began working on the IHHD project entitled “Achieving equity in access to antenatal care”, which focuses on addressing issues relating to the access of antenatal care in the London borough of Newham.

Publications:

Sweeney, L., Quinlivan, L., Malone, K., O’Loughlin, E., and Delaney, L., (2009). Is there a role for suicide research in modern Ireland? Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine,Volume 26, No. 3.

Presentations:

Sweeney, L., Kelleher, C., Dooley, B., Owens, C., Malone, K. (2010) Exploring perspectives of peer suicide in young Irish males. 13th European Symposium on Suicide and Suicidal Behaviour, Rome, Italy, September 2010 (Oral)

Sweeney, L., Kelleher, C., Dooley, B., Owens, C., Malone, K. (2010) A qualitative exploration of peer suicide. Faculty of Public Health Medicine Winter Scientific Meeting, Dublin, Ireland, December 2009 (Poster)

Sweeney, L., Kelleher, C., Dooley, B., Owens, C., Malone, K. (2010) Exploring perspectives of peer suicide in young Irish males. Psychological Society of Ireland Annual Conference, Wexford, Ireland, November 2009 (Oral)

Sweeney, L., Kelleher, C., Dooley, B., Malone, K. (2008) A qualitative exploration of perceptions of depression in young Irish males. American Men’s Studies Association Annual Conference, North Carolina, U.S.A., April 2008 (Oral)

Sweeney, L., Kelleher, C., Dooley, B., Malone, K. (2007) The perceptions and attitudes of young Irish men towards depression as a mental illness. British Psychological Society Northern Ireland Branch Annual Conference, Carlingford, Ireland, May 2007 (Oral)

 

© 2010