Sanju Silwal

Sanju Silwal is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Research Centre for Child Psychiatry, University of Turku, Finland. She earned her PhD from the University of Turku in 2021 and continues her research within the same institution, focusing on psychiatric epidemiology and adolescent mental health.

• Institution: University of Turku
• Research Centre: Research Centre for Child Psychiatry
• Position: Postdoctoral Researcher
• Email: sanju.silwal@utu.fi

Her research centers on identifying determinants of mental health, especially in adolescents exposed to trauma, war, and natural disasters. She also investigates the impact of maternal nutrition—particularly vitamin B12 and D levels during pregnancy—on offspring psychiatric outcomes such as schizophrenia, autism, and ADHD. Her work combines population-based register data with epidemiological methods to assess long-term mental health risks.

Dr. Silwal's recent publications highlight trends in war-related adolescent mental health, particularly in Ukraine, and systematic reviews on prenatal vitamin exposure. Her work spans trauma, suicidality, bullying, and neurodevelopmental disorders, reflecting a strong focus on global and population mental health. Much of her research is conducted in collaboration with Prof. Andre Sourander and international teams.

Notable contributions include studies on:

• Mental health impacts of the Russian invasion on Ukrainian adolescents
• Long-term psychiatric effects of the 2015 Nepal earthquake
• Maternal vitamin levels and offspring neuropsychiatric disorders

While no specific awards or grants are mentioned in the provided text, her active publication record in high-impact journals such as Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Schizophrenia Research indicates significant scholarly impact. She is involved in mentoring and collaborative research within Andre Sourander's Lab, though no formal students are listed.

She is affiliated with a well-established research group focusing on child psychiatry and trauma, utilizing Finland’s robust national health registries and collaborating on international comparative studies, especially involving conflict zones.