Global Mental Health Program
UIC 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 at Chicago (UIC) 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
Leadership Team
- Mary Bunn, PhD, LCSW, Co-Director
- Stevan Weine, MD, Co-Director
- Chloe Polutnik, MPH, Program Coordinator
UIC Faculty and Staff
- Olusola Ajilore, MD, PhD
- Marc Atkins, PhD
- Judith Cook, PhD
- Jennifer Duffcey, PhD
- Nicole Gonzalez, MPH
- Cynthia Handrup, DNP
- Lisa Razzano, PhD
- Dana Rusch, PhD
- Rebecca Singer, DNP, RN
- Reshma Shah, MD
- Robert Zolna, MDes
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