Henrika Jormfeldt

Henrika Jormfeldt, Professor of Nursing at Halmstad University's Academy of Health and Welfare, serves as director of the Specialist Nursing Education with specialization in psychiatric care and represents her academy on the university-wide Research Ethics Council (FER). She leads the HUI project studying Horse-assisted interventions in care, school, and treatment for children, adolescents, and adults with mental illness and disabilities.

Her research centers on psychiatric nursing, mental health care, and equine-assisted therapy, with particular focus on schizophrenia treatment and lifestyle interventions for mental illness. She employs qualitative research methodologies to explore therapeutic relationships, patient experiences, and innovative treatment approaches that bridge traditional mental healthcare with animal-assisted interventions.

Professor Jormfeldt's recent publications (2022-2025) demonstrate consistent scholarly output examining equine-assisted therapy applications across various mental health contexts, including for people with schizophrenia, common mental disorders, and children/adolescents with mental illness. Her work shows particular interest in therapeutic relationships, intervention efficacy, and the role of animals in facilitating mental health recovery.

She serves as Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Health & Well-being and Associate Editor of Issues in Mental Health Nursing, contributing significantly to scholarly discourse in her field. Additionally, she is a board member of Horses in Education and Therapy International (HETI) and chairs the Interest Association for Schizophrenia and Other Psychoses (IFSAP Halmstad), demonstrating active engagement with both research and community aspects of mental healthcare.

Her leadership extends to multiple research projects including the HUT project (Equine-Assisted Therapy and Rehabilitation), the LIFE project (lifestyle intervention for people with psychosis), and the HUT-Children initiative, reflecting her commitment to developing innovative, evidence-based approaches to mental health treatment across the lifespan.