Professor Monique Lhussier

Professor

Department: Social Work, Education and Community Wellbeing

Having graduated as an engineer in biological sciences, with a Masters in cellular nutrition and a PhD in sociology, I am a lifelong researcher. As a social scientist, I have expertise in marginalisation, welfare and wellbeing. My work focuses on understanding processes of engagement for groups which are often deemed ‘hard to reach’ or in situations of social or health precarity. I have expertise in a number of research methodologies and I am particularly known for my innovative work in realist approaches to research.

I am Director of the Centre for Health and Social Equity; and deputy lead for the theme of Health Inequalities and Marginalised Communities of the NIHR North East North Cumbria Applied Research Collaboration (https://arc-nenc.nihr.ac.uk/).

Campus Address

Coach Lane Campus East (H005)

Email Monique

Research Themes and Scholarly Interests

I have held awards, as Principal Investigator and collaborator, totalling over £14 million from funders including the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), which focus on knowledge translation and on the experiences of people who are marginalised or find themselves in situation of social or health precarity.

My research is two pronged. On the one hand it focuses on the use of metaphors and discursive formations in culturally specific understandings of key societal concepts such death, attachment, or quality of life. On the other hand, I focus on the pragmatic understanding of ‘what works’ in service delivery to meet the needs of people who may have complex and multiple needs. I use theory to explain the vagaries of public health interventions in their broadest possible sense, with a focus on the broader societal and structural determinants of health. As well as embracing postmodern approaches to research, I have expertise in soft system methodology and realist evaluation and synthesis.

I am currently co-leading a £1.4M UKRI funded programme of work to help tackle homelessness in the North East and Cumbria.

I have also recently undertaken research on women's experiences of homelessness.

Key Publications

Please visit the Pure Research Information Portal for further information
Adolescent health: from individual risk behaviours to wellbeing ecosystems: learning from the paradigm shift, Cooper, C., Lhussier, M. 14 Jan 2025, In: International Journal of Inclusive Education
‘If I wasn’t on drugs or I didn’t take anything, I wouldn’t be here’: Mental health ‘problems’ as an unfolding dimension of social harm generated by stigma, Addison, M., Lhussier, M. 14 Mar 2025, Mental Health, Crime and Justice, Cham, Switzerland, Palgrave Macmillan
Stigma and the Inverse Care Law: Experiences of ‘Care’ for People Living in Marginalised Conditions, Addison, M., Scott, S., Bambra, C., Lhussier, M. Jan 2025, In: Sociology of Health & Illness
Addressing health inequalities in times of austerity: implementation of a place-based approach in multitiered local government, Lee, C., Buswell, M., Cocker, J., Buckner, S., Cowan, A., Lhussier, M. 1 May 2024, In: Perspectives in Public Health
Assessment and Qualitative Comparative Analysis of English Local Authority Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategies to Improve Health under Austerity Conditions, 2013–2017, Tompson, A., Egan, M., McGill, E., Rinaldi, C., Mead, R., Holland, P., Alexiou, A., Popay, J., Lhussier, M. 2024, In: Health and Social Care in the Community
British South Asian and Muslim Community’s Perceptions and Experiences of Addiction and Traditional Drug and Alcohol Treatment Services, Sattar, Z., Lochhead, L., Alderson, H., Lhussier, M., McGovern, R., McGovern, W. 10 Oct 2024, In: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Does better than expected life expectancy in areas of disadvantage indicate health resilience? Stakeholder perspectives and possible explanations, Mead, R., Rinaldi, C., McGill, E., Egan, M., Popay, J., Hartwell, G., Daras, K., Edwards, A., Lhussier, M. 1 May 2024, In: Health and Place
‘The book’s a conversation starter’: a realist exploration of the salutogenic potential of reading for pleasure, Sirisena, M., Lhussier, M., Kaner, E., Wearn, A., Gray, J., James, R., Redgate, S. 23 Sep 2024, In: Medical Humanities
The (dis)organization of leg ulcer care: A realist synthesis, Pagnamenta, F., Lhussier, M., Rapley, T. 1 Dec 2024, In: Journal of Advanced Nursing
A review of leg ulcerations coverage in the United Kingdom print media: A growing problem for the vulnerable adult, Pagnamenta, F., Lhussier, M., Rapley, T. 1 Jun 2023, In: Journal of Vascular Nursing

Current and Recent Projects

Please visit the Pure Research Information Portal for further information
Exploring Non-clinical Drug and Alcohol harm and service access experiences of British South Asian youth, Sattar, Z. (Principal Investigator), Lhussier, M. (Co Investigator), Newcastle City Council, 01/04/23 - 31/03/24, £24,211.00
Community Asset Mapping the Mental Health and Drug and Alcohol Services, Organisations and Recovery Groups in the Newcastle Area, McGovern, W. (Principal Investigator), Lhussier, M. (Co Investigator), Newcastle City Council, 01/02/23 - 31/01/24, £49,971.00