Global Mental Health Affairs (GMA)
DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHIATRY, UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO
Director: Dr. Arun V. Ravindran
Who We Are
Global Mental Health Affairs (GMA) is the global health arm of the Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, and is an active partner in the University of Toronto’s global health strategy initiatives. It collaborates with international academic centres, non-governmental organizations and other local and regional agencies to build mental health research and treatment expertise around the world, increase public awareness of mental health issues, and influence governmental policy and support for mental health resources. The GMHP draws on the rich expertise and interests of Departmental members in such collaborations and also works actively to develop a culture of enthusiasm for global health work among trainees and young faculty in the Department. It works closely with the Office of International Health at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, the main teaching hospital of the Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto.
Vision
A world in which good mental health is the public norm and access to quality psychiatric care is a societal priority.
Mission
To promote collaborative mental health training and research between the U of T Psychiatry and international centres of learning and treatment.
To build sustainable capacity for mental health care, training and research in developing world regions.
Values and Guiding Principles
Social equity in mental health care
Effective, affordable and readily available mental health care for all people in all societies, regardless of socio-economic status, race, gender, religion, or any other socio-biological differentiator.
Sustainability
New mental health systems and services are designed to subsist within the framework of existing socio-medical resources.
Respect
Appreciation, understanding and accommodation of cultural diversity and socio-political realities, and recognition and inclusion of local expertise.
Reciprocity/Mutual Enrichment
Information sharing and knowledge exchange between all collaborative parties.
Goals
- Improve the accessibility and quality of mental health treatment around the world, particularly in economically disadvantaged regions and for underserviced populations.
- Develop local expertise and facility for continuing education in mental health research and training in under-resourced world regions.
- Maintain a system of ongoing knowledge exchange and collaboration between faculty members with an interest in global mental health and international academics/clinicians.
Strategic Initiatives (2011-2014)
1. Maintain current academic collaborations with international institutions and establish linkages to new global academic and research centres.
(a) Previous partnerships that have established in Sri Lanka and Mexico on interdisciplinary capacity building in mental health treatment will be further consolidated. These projects will be initiated in 2011.
(b) New academic partnerships will be established with 2 countries with the goal of developing clinician-research capacity. Target countries include Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Mexico, Chile, Peru, and Jamaica.
2. Build mental health treatment capacity in underserviced specialties.
(a) Training in areas such as forensics, child and adolescent mental heath, women’s mental health, and gender-based violence, will be initiated in regions where this expertise is lacking.
(b) The GMA will collaborate with local partners in the development and piloting of such programs/services. Some initial funding (for 1-2 years) may be provided.
(c) Research will be conducted into areas of need, with a focus on translatability into practical application, e.g. gender-based determinants of mental health, social correlates of substance use, socio-cultural mediators of stress disorders.
3. Expand mental health treatment capacity through strategic use of human resources.
(a) To increase access to mental health care in regions where psychiatric specialists are few, mental health training will be provided to primary care physicians to enhance early diagnosis and treatment.
(b) In regions where the mental health infrastructure is particularly weak (e.g. regions affected by war or natural disasters), mental health training will be provided to allied health and other professionals (e.g. social workers, nurses, teachers, government workers), to facilitate early detection of mental distress and access to treatment.
4. Engage students, residents and faculty in global health initiatives.
(a) Medical student and resident electives and post-doctoral fellowships in global mental health projects will be developed, leading to knowledge exchange between U of T Psychiatry and the global partners. Training will be shared between Canada and the host country and applications will be encouraged from both Canadian and non-Canadian sources. Some funding support may be available from the GMA.
5. Establish a system of knowledge exchange and collaborations between clinicians and academics involved in global mental health development.
(a) An annual conference will be established, hosted by the GMA, for faculty members and international partners engaged in global mental health work. Content will focus on training and research initiatives, priority areas, challenges and opportunities, student presentations, and new learning.
(b) Observerships in mental health treatment and research will be arranged for foreign clinicians at teaching hospitals affiliated with the Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto. Some funding support may be available from the GMA.
(c) Information on current GMHP initiatives and future opportunities will be disseminated regularly to faculty members via email and will also be archived on the GMA website.
6. Develop information systems to support current and future GMA initiatives.
(a) A GMHP website will be created with information on ongoing global mental health initiatives with U of T Psychiatry involvement, available projects for those interested in participation, and funding opportunities for development work and research.
(b) A database will be established to track historical and current activity in global mental health initiatives by U of T Psychiatry members. It will be linked to the GMA website for easy updating by students and faculty involved in this work.
(c) An information resource for visiting academics will also be stored on the GMA website. It will contain information on the U of T academic system, campus facilities and continuing education opportunities, as well as routine details on the City of Toronto and accommodation and transportation options…