Professor Dawn Edge’s passion for reducing inequalities in access to care and outcomes for Black communities is at the heart of her work. Through research, teaching and community engagement, she has championed mental health services that recognise people’s cultural backgrounds and respond to their individual needs.
As Professor of Mental Health and Inclusivity at the University of Manchester, Dawn brings together academic expertise and a strong commitment to public service. Her work seeks to influence policy, practice and service delivery, improving the experiences of people whose needs have too often been overlooked.
One of her most significant contributions is her leadership in developing culturally adapted approaches to mental health care. These include Culturally-adapted Family Intervention, known as CaFI, which addresses the needs of African and Caribbean people affected by psychosis and schizophrenia.
This work highlights the importance of understanding culture and individual circumstances when supporting someone experiencing psychological distress. Dawn has consistently drawn attention to the need for services to recognise these factors and make them part of how care is delivered.
Her research spans interventions for schizophrenia and psychosis, digital health, perinatal mental health and child health. It also explores resilience and recovery, offender health, and the relationship between spirituality, faith, religion and mental health.
Across these areas, she examines how ethnicity, gender and deprivation can intersect to shape people’s experiences. Her commitment to understanding these connections helps keep attention on the barriers faced by people who are marginalised, socially excluded or experiencing poorer access to care.
Education is another important part of her contribution. With a strong background in teaching, curriculum design and evaluation, Dawn supports undergraduate and postgraduate students to develop their knowledge and skills. Through her teaching and mentorship, she contributes to the development of future researchers, leaders and mental health professionals.
Her work within the university has also included leadership on equality, diversity and inclusion, alongside support for initiatives such as the Race Equality Charter and Athena SWAN. These responsibilities reflect her commitment to addressing inequalities within the institutions where people learn and work.
Dawn remains actively engaged with communities. Improving the lives of people who experience mental health problems, reducing stigma and promoting culturally informed care are central to what she does. Her work encourages greater awareness of why inclusive healthcare matters and how it can benefit everyone in society.
She has also helped shape policies addressing health disparities, bringing attention to the changes needed to improve care, services and outcomes for Black communities. Her research and advocacy connect an understanding of inequality with a determination to do something about it.
As the University of Manchester’s first Black female professor, Dawn has provided an important example of representation and achievement. Her presence offers encouragement to students, colleagues and communities who may rarely see themselves reflected in senior academic positions.
She has spoken about her lived experience to raise awareness of Black experiences in professional environments. In doing so, she encourages understanding, helps challenge cultural barriers and creates opportunities for people to work together more openly.
What stands out is her empathetic leadership. She uses her knowledge and influence to challenge inequalities while remaining focused on the people affected by them. Her achievements demonstrate the importance of leaders who support others and take responsibility for making institutions more inclusive.
Dawn’s work recognises that historical injustices continue to influence health outcomes in Black communities. Addressing those inequalities requires equity, understanding and care in the decisions made today.
Professor Dawn Edge deserves recognition for her sustained commitment to that work: helping people receive care that understands them, supporting the next generation of professionals and ensuring that communities too often overlooked have a voice in shaping better services.