Biography
Dihini is an NIHR Research Assistant in the Applied Social Science Group (ASSG) at the University of Cambridge. Her research primarily focuses on the qualitative aspects of the COACHES project, which explores how CAMHS can best support children and young people involved with the social work system. She has contributed to multiple systematic reviews, including leading a qualitative review on how structural factors are considered in youth experiences of self-harm and suicide. She also supports knowledge dissemination through preparing academic presentations and peer-reviewed publications, ensuring accessibility for diverse audiences. She holds a Bsci in Psychology from the University of Bath (2024).
Research
Dihini is currently focused on supporting projects that explore the experiences of young people with social work involvement in relation to the UK mental health system. Her wider research interests relate to the lived experiences of various mental health conditions and how individuals navigate care systems and wider society, particularly suicidal distress, self-harm, and eating disorders. She is particularly concerned with how these conditions are experienced by vulnerable and/or marginalised populations, who often face intersecting inequalities.
