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I received my PhD and MSW from the University of Toronto. I also have an Honours BA (Psychology) from Trent University and an Honours BSc (Economics) from Universidad del Pacifico (Peru). Prior to joining Laurier in 2011, I taught at the School of Social Work- Ryerson University, the Faculty of Social Work- University of Toronto, and the Certificate for Internationally Trained Social Workers –Ryerson University. My social work practice has been primarily in the fields of community mental health and violence against women. Born and raised in Peru, I am a peace and human rights advocate, committed to eradicate gender-based violence.
My research focuses on how people survive and resist violence, in particular, political, sexual, and structural violence and the health consequences of such violence. As a diaspora social work researcher informed by decoloniality, I believe in a ‘reverse mission’ this is- rather than to rescue- to learn from the Global South and to advance social work responses to neo-colonialism.
My previous research (2008- 2011) has honoured the gendered resilience and resistance of Indigenous women in Peru in the aftermath of mass violence and their use of political activism as a resilience strategy (2012-2013). Supported by CIHR, I have also (2013- 2016) examined youth informed priorities on HIV/STIs prevention and sexual health rights in Peru.
Currently, I am the principal investigator of:
- A CIHR funded project (2019-2021) examining the resilience pathways and help seeking preferences of members of the police services in Ontario.
- A SSHRC-funded study (2016- 2019) examining the prevention of sexual violence in post-conflict communities through developing and evaluating a community informed preventative approach in Ayacucho, Peru.
I am also co-investigator in:
- A SSHRC funded research examining the social ecologies of resilience among Indigenous youth in the Northwest Territories (2016-2020 - PI Dr. Carmen Logie, U of T).
- A SSHRC funded research developing Transformative Memory Networks of scholars and activists in post conflict zones (2018-2022 - PI Dr. Pilar Riaño-Alcala and Dr. Erin Baines, UBC).
- I am also collaborating in a large SSHRC funded project aiming to strengthen collaboration in the Americas on children and youth rights by developing a seven countries partnership (2015-2020- PI Dr. Henry Parada, Ryerson).
- 2019, WLU Faculty Merit Award - Research
- 2016, WLU Faculty Merit Award - Research
- 2013, WLU Faculty Merit Award - Research
- 2010-2011, International Development Research Centre (IDRC) Doctoral Research Award
- 2007-2010, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Doctoral Fellowship
- 2008-2009, Lupina Doctoral Fellowship - Comparative Program of Health and Society - Munk School of Global Affairs, University of Toronto
I have research assistantships opportunities for graduate and undergraduate students in current funded projects please email for information on available positions.
I am willing to supervise graduate students in the areas of mental health, trauma and resilience, gender based violence, and health equity issues locally and globally.
- Suarez, E.B., Logie, C., Arocha, J. F., Sanchez, H., & Shokirova, T. (2019). Resilience Pathways of LGBT Youth in Peru: Contesting Everyday Violence. Global Public Health – Special Call: The Contested Global Politics of Pleasure and Danger: Sexuality, Gender, Health and Human Rights (In press)
- Suarez, E. B. (2019) Quechua Women's Resistance and Activism: Linkages with Spirituality and Andean Traditions. In: Baskin, C. & Profitt, N. J. (Eds.) Spirituality and Social Justice: Spirit in the Political Quest for a Just World (In press)
- Mayor, C. & Suarez, E. B. (2019). A Scoping Review of the Demographic and Contextual Variables in Canada’s Educational Opportunity Gaps. Canadian Journal of Education/Revue Canadienne de l'éducation
- Suarez, E. B., Lafreniere, G. & Harrison, J. (2016). Scoping review of interventions supporting mothers with mental illness: Key outcomes and challenges. Community Mental Health Journal
- Suarez, E. B. (2016). Trauma in Global Contexts: Integrating Local Practices and Meanings into New Explanatory Frameworks of Trauma. International Social Work Journal
- Suarez, E. B. & Suarez, C. (2015). The Memorialization of Narratives and Sites among Indigenous Women in Ayacucho: Resilience in the Aftermath of Mass Violence and Atrocities. Resilience: International Policies, Practices and Discourses- Special Issue: Indigenizing Resilience
- Suarez, E. B. (2015). ‘Surviving ‘juntas’ (together): Lessons from the resilience of Indigenous Quechua women in the aftermath of the Peruvian conflict. Intervention: The International Journal of Mental Health, Psychosocial Work and Counseling in Areas of Armed Conflict
- Cadell, S., Suarez, E. B. & Hemsworth, D. (2015). Reliability and Validity of the French version of the Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory. Online Journal of Medical Psychology http://www.scirp.org/Journal/PaperInformation.aspx?PaperID=55729
- Suarez, E.B., Logie, C. & Arocha, J. F. (2014). An open debate about objectives and purpose of global health knowledge in the context of an interdisciplinary and international research partnership. BMC Globalization and Health http://www.globalizationandhealth.com/content/pdf/1744-8603-10-40.pdf
- Suarez, E. B. (2013). The association between posttraumatic stress-related symptoms, resilience, current stress and past exposure to violence: A cross sectional study of the survival of Quechua women in the aftermath of the Peruvian armed conflict. BMC Conflict and Health
- http://www.conflictandhealth.com/content/7/1/21
- Suarez, E.B. (2013). Recognizing Suffering or Resistance? Honoring the Courage of Indigenous Quechua Women in Post Conflict Ayacucho, Peru. Stability, International Journal of Security and Development, Special Collection: Surviving Violence, The Politics of (Self) Protection http://www.stabilityjournal.org/article/view/sta.cc
- Suarez, E. B. (2013). Two decades later: The resilience and post-traumatic responses of Indigenous Quechua girls and adolescents in the aftermath of the Peruvian armed conflict”. Child Abuse & Neglect- The International Journal, Special Issue on Risk and Resilience
- Suarez, E. & Gadalla, T. (2010). Stop Blaming the Victim: A meta-analysis on Rape Myths. Journal of Interpersonal Violence
Contact Info:
F: 519.888.9732
Office location: FSW406
Office hours:
Email for an appointment.
Languages spoken: English, Spanish