Uppsala University Secures SEK 3 Million for Women’s Mental Health Research
How do hormonal changes affect women’s mental health and suicide risk? Erika Comasco at Uppsala University will now explore this question thanks to a grant of SEK 3 million from the Swedish Research Council.
Erika Comasco, Associate Senior Lecturer at the Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, leads the project “Women’s Mental Health: One Size Does Not Fit All.” Over the next three years, her research team will study how hormone fluctuations linked to the menstrual cycle during the fertile years influence mental health and suicide risk.
“By combining real-time measurements, advanced brain imaging and person-centred analyses, we hope to develop more tailored treatment strategies and preventive measures” says Erika Comasco.
The project is closely connected to WOMHER, Uppsala University’s interdisciplinary initiative on women’s mental health, and is carried out in collaboration with Johan Wikström and WOMHER co-founder Inger Sundström Poromaa.
Why Women’s Mental Health Research Is Crucial
Mental health problems are a growing global challenge, and women are particularly vulnerable during hormonal transitions such as the menstrual cycle, pregnancy and menopause. By understanding these biological and psychological links, research can help reduce suicide risk and improve quality of life for millions of women.
The findings may lead to new care guidelines and personalised treatments – something that is largely missing in today’s healthcare system.
How WOMHER Advances Mental Health Care for Women
WOMHER (Uppsala University’s Centre for Women’s Mental Health) is a unique research environment that brings together expertise from medicine, psychology and social sciences. Its goal is to create knowledge that leads to individualised interventions and new care strategies. Projects like Comasco’s strengthen WOMHER’s vision of developing solutions that can be applied nationally and internationally –
contributing to more equitable and effective healthcare for women.
Five Uppsala Researchers Awarded Swedish Research Council Grants
In total, five researchers at the department have received grants from the Swedish Research Council. Among them is Susanne Lager, who has been awarded SEK 3 million for a project on the pregnancy complication pre-eclampsia. Her research investigates whether human herpesvirus 6 could be an underlying cause of the disease – a study that may provide entirely new insights into how viruses affect pregnancy and women’s health.
Text: Johanna Schuster
Erika Comasco, Associate Senior Lecturer at the Department of Women’s and Children’s Health.