Frida Jonsson

Frida Jonsson serves as Associate Professor in Social Work at Umeå University's Department of Social Work, concurrently holding the title of Docent in Public Health. Her academic home is situated at Samhällsvetarhuset in Umeå, where she conducts interdisciplinary research bridging social work, public health, and social epidemiology with particular focus on marginalized populations in sparsely populated regions.

Her educational trajectory includes a BSc in health-related project management and evaluation, MSc in global health, and PhD in social epidemiology, culminating in her 2023 appointment as Docent in Public Health. This foundation enables her unique perspective on systemic health challenges.

Dr. Jonsson's research manifests through three interconnected pillars: health/social care systems in sparsely populated areas, NEET youth dynamics, and complex intervention evaluation. She champions co-creation methodologies across all projects, employing mixed-methods approaches while collaborating with sociologists, psychologists, occupational therapists, and cultural geographers. Her work consistently engages public and civil society actors throughout research cycles.

Recent publications reveal intensifying focus on pandemic impacts on vulnerable youth, social prescribing innovations for elderly populations, and rural health system adaptations. Methodologically, her work increasingly employs realist evaluation frameworks and community-based participatory research to unpack 'how and why' interventions succeed or fail in specific contexts.

She actively mentors MPH and medical students while leading five major research projects including longitudinal studies on NEET youth support systems (2024-2028) and scoping reviews for youth with mental health challenges (2023-2024). Her current grant portfolio spans pandemic impact analysis, social prescribing implementation, and rural eHealth innovations.

As a core member of the Norrland Observatory for Equity in Health and Health Care, she contributes to regional health equity initiatives while maintaining strong ties with international research networks focused on rural health systems and youth welfare.