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Global Mental Health Program

The Global Mental Health (GMH) Program is a program of research, training, capacity building and advocacy of the Center for Global Health at the University of Illinois College of Medicine. It is comprised of faculty, staff, and students from diverse disciplinary backgrounds, from UIC and partner organizations.

Our Mission

The program’s mission is to reduce mental health disparities in low-and middle-income countries with a particular focus on issues of forced displacement, conflict and humanitarian emergencies.

Our research initiatives focus on the development of innovative and evidence-based interventions that promote mental health and treat mental health and psychosocial problems in low-resources settings. We partner with local, national and global organizations to increase their capacity to deliver effective, scalable interventions. In addition, we provide global mental health training for researchers, clinicians, other practitioners, and policymakers.

Research Focus Areas

  • Mental health and co-morbid NCDs
  • Multi-component and integrated care models
  • Family and group interventions
  • Well-child and school-based interventions
  • Implementation science
  • Neuroscience informed approaches to global mental health
  • Digital technology for mental health
  • Public health approach to violence prevention 

Partner Faculty

  • Mary Acri, New York University
  • Aliriza Arenliu, University of Prishtina
  • Mahbat Bahromov, Prisma Research Center
  • Esra Bakir, Turkish Red Crescent
  • Emma Cardeli, Boston Children’s Hospital/Harvard Medical School
  • Nayanjeet Chaudhury, Ramaiah Medical College
  • David Eisenman, UCLA
  • Heidi Ellis, Boston Children’s Hospital/Harvard Medical School
  • Vahdet Gomez, Medeniyet University
  • Virupakshi Jalihal, Ramaiah Medical College
  • Jonbek Jonbekov, Prisma Research Center
  • Brandon Kohrt, George Washington University
  • Scott Langenecker, University of Utah
  • Mary McKay, Washington University
  • Barakat Niyozov, Prisma Research Center
  • Gulya Pirova, Prisma Research Center
  • Shukrije Statovci, University of Pristina
  • Karin Wachter, Arizona State University

Partner Organizations

  • Boston Children’s Hospital Trauma and Community Resilience Center (TCRC)
  • Center for Victims of Torture
  • Heartland Alliance International
  • Heartland Alliance Marjorie Kovler Center
  • MedGlobal
  • Prisma Research Center
  • MS Ramaiah Medical
  • Sana Sezim Legal Center for Women’s Initiative
  • Turkish Red Crescent