Richard Jia attends Westlake Boys High School in New Zealand. He joined CCIR’s 1-on-1 Research Mentorship programme to study sociology under Dr Hande Guzel from the University of Cambridge.
His research paper, “Redefining Mental Health: Marginalisation and the Impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic on Understandings of Mental Disorders,” has been accepted for presentation at the annual BSA Medical Sociology Conference.
Richard’s Research on Mental Health
Richard investigates how the Covid-19 pandemic influenced understandings of mental health disorders. His research examines New Zealand and the wider world.
New Zealand offers a distinctive perspective on this topic. Indigenous cultures emphasise well-being, while the government has increased efforts to raise mental health awareness.
Richard analysed social media content to explore these changes. His findings showed increased engagement with mental health content during the pandemic.
However, this shift also highlighted a potential concern. Disorders seen as less directly relevant to the pandemic, such as bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, may receive less attention.
Presenting at the BSA Medical Sociology Conference
Richard will present his findings alongside established and emerging researchers in medical sociology. He is also the youngest presenter at the conference, according to the original article.
The British Sociological Association hosts this annual conference. It brings together researchers who study the social dimensions of medicine and health.
The event encourages discussion and helps advance sociological research. Richard’s acceptance marks an important milestone in his academic journey.
Congratulations to Richard on this achievement!
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