Dr. Vinola Poliah

Vinola Poliah is a South African researcher whose work centres on community mental health, stigma, and vulnerable populations. Her scholarship engages with the intersection of mental illness, social context, and access to care, with particular attention to underserved groups within South Africa. She has published in national peer-reviewed journals focused on psychiatry and primary care.

Her research explores attitudes toward mental illness within Christian communities, highlighting the influential role of faith leaders and congregations in shaping help-seeking behaviour. By examining stigma and community perceptions, her work underscores the importance of culturally responsive collaboration between healthcare providers and religious institutions to strengthen mental health support systems.

Poliah has also investigated depression, anxiety, substance use, and trauma among sex workers, drawing attention to co-occurring health and social vulnerabilities. This body of work demonstrates expertise in cross-sectional survey methods and public mental health, emphasising integrated, community-based interventions. The profile is based on a limited but focused set of available publications.