Dr. Kathryn Abel

Biography

Kathryn Abel is a Clinical Professor of Psychological Medicine at the University of Manchester, specializing in Reproductive Psychiatry. She is also the Director of the Centre for Women’s Mental Health within the Division of Psychology and Mental Health. Tapping into her extensive experience, she has played a vital role in shaping policy and developing services for women's mental health. Kathryn has been an honorary consultant psychiatrist at the Manchester Mental Health Social Care Trust, significantly contributing to mental health research within the NHS context of Greater Manchester. As the NIHR Clinical Local Research Network Lead for Mental Health and Neurology, she focuses on delivering high-quality research outcomes for NHS patients. Her research delves into the effects of maternal conditions on fetal environments and the associated offspring outcomes, encompassing themes of maternal sensitivity and interventions to enhance the wellbeing of offspring, especially those born to mentally ill mothers. Her work often involves gender-specific interventions aimed at women offenders in prison settings. Kathryn’s collaborations extend to various international institutions across Scandinavia, Australia, and the United States, including Columbia University in New York, and she contributes towards goals set by the UN Sustainable Development Agenda. Furthermore, she has been involved in multiple projects aimed at understanding and improving mental health services in specific populations, including men in prisons and mothers with severe mental illness.

Research Interests