Francesca McLaren, MPH – MHPSS Knowledge Hub

Francesca McLaren, MPH

Program Manager

Francesca McLaren is a Project Manager at CIMH. Francesca obtained her Bachelor of Science in Anthropology from University College London in May 2021, and a Master of Public Health with a certificate in Global Health from Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health in May 2023. During her undergraduate degree and year studying abroad at the University of California, Berkeley, Francesca developed a keen interest in medical anthropology and global health which later inspired her to write her final year dissertation titled “How Does Documentation Status Impact Undocumented Latinx Immigrants’ Mental Health in North America?”. She was also involved in multiple research and volunteer opportunities working with asylum seekers suffering with mental illness which informed her decision to pursue a Master of Public Health. During her MPH, Francesca then developed a specialized interest in migrant mental health and was involved in research investigating mental illness stigma in Latinx communities and Spanish-speaking media, and conducted field research studying how migration impacts the mental health of Haitian migrants living in Santiago, Chile. Prior to CIMH, Francesca worked as a Project Coordinator at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine’s Institute for Clinical and Translational Research.

Email: francescamclaren@hotmail.co.uk

Professional Expertise

Disciplines

Anthropology, Human rights/international law, International development, Public health

Topical EXPERTISE

Common mental health conditions, Displaced population health, migration/refugee issues

Methodological Areas

Community engagement and CBPR, Efficacy/effectiveness trials, Qualitative methods, Systematic review/metaanalyses

Strategies expertise

Advocacy, Community engagement, Capacity building, Dissemination and implementation

Intervention Expertise

Mental health awareness/promotion

Partnership Expertise

Community-based organizations/coalitions, Schools and universities