DEVELOPMENT
DISPLACEMENT
Development-induced displacement is the involuntary removal of individuals and communities from their homes and land to make way for development or conservation projects. In our definition, we also include displacement caused by poverty and economic crises.
With 15 million development-displaced communities worldwide, our research aims to measure the extent to which gentrification efforts expose communities to heightened levels of stress due to the loss of social capital, cultural bonds, and removal into areas of degeneration. Our target groups include people displaced by extractive or regeneration projects and human-made disasters such as oil spillages, toxic waste disposal, and lead poisoning.
Closer to home, the Grenfell Tower disaster highlights the dangers and growing psychological harm at the intersection of gentrification, inequality and displacement. We will be working with civil society organisations and mental health practitioners to identify how gentrification and poverty intersect worsening mental health and how psycho-geographies matters to community well-being.
We also include communities impacted by economic collapse, with research insights following the recent crisis in Venezuela where food insecurity and political discord has caused migration to neighbouring states.
Our findings will support specific recommendations based on state’s commitments to fulfilling the Sustainable Development Goals as regarding SDG3 on ‘Good Health and Wellbeing’ and how this can translate into integrated policies and practices as part of wider efforts to modernise and develop by 2030.
INTEGRATING SDGS, MENTAL HEALTH AND DISPLACEMENT
Since coming into effect in January 2016, the SDGs, also known as the Global Goals, mark the next phase of development initiatives after the conclusion of the Millennium Development Goals (2000-2015) aimed at eradicating poverty, protecting the planet and increasing equality and prosperity worldwide by 2030.
We have spotlighted the SDGs that intersect across our work, especially how these development goals connect with displacement and mental health issues linked with poverty, climate change, education, equality in healthcare, and peacebuilding.
ARTICLES
Lim S, et al (2017) Impact of residential
displacement on healthcare access and mental
health among original residents of gentrifying
neighborhoods in New York City. PLoS ONE 12
(12)
Guido Van Hal (2015): The True Cost of the Economic Crisis on Psychological Well-Being : A Review. Psychology Research and Behavior Management 2015:8 17–25
(12)
Venis Wilder, Anna-Luisa Mirto, Emma Makoba, Guedy Arniella (2017): The Health Impact of Gentrification.. Journal of General and Emergency Medicine. Volume 2, Issue 5.
POVERTY & DISPLACEMENT
IN THE MEDIA
Grenfell's Lasting Impact on Children's Mental Health
ITV News
How Does 'Toxic Stress' of Poverty Hurt the Developing Brain?
PBS News
PODCASTS
Sportlight: Urban Gentrification Displacement
NEWS
Changing the Narrative on Mental Health in Displacement. .
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