Afsana Anwar

PhD candidate at Discipline of Psychiatry and Mental Health

Afsana Anwar is a passionate public health researcher and a PhD candidate in the Discipline of Psychiatry and Mental Health at the University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney. She has a strong background in public health, nutrition, and Mental health, and her research focuses on the intersection of food insecurity and mental health in marginalized, displaced, and refugee populations. Afsana is very committed to understanding and addressing the specific physical and psychological needs of vulnerable groups in the community. Her current work focuses on the intersection of food insecurity, chronic disease, and mental health among people experiencing disadvantage, with a particular focus on the well-being of refugees and asylum seekers in humanitarian emergencies and resettlement settings, including Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh. By investigating chronic disease management, socio-economic determinants, and food security opportunities, she hopes to contribute to evidence-based interventions that improve overall quality of life for populations facing deep adversity. Afsana is committed to social equity and strives to connect the dots between physical health and mental health in resource-limited settings.