Session Programme

Parallel session

Monday, 19 April 2010

Session PS15/room 2

Global Mental Health: Challenges and Opportunities in a Changing World

Chairs: Ann Lindsay, Honorary Chair of the NGO Forum for Health, Mental Health & Psychosocial Support Working Group, Switzerland
Pandelis Giannakopoulos, Professor, Head of the Department of Psychiatry, Geneva University Hospitals, Switzerland

The impact of globalization presents challenges to mental health, as to health systems generally. The session takes a region-by-region view of the challenges to the achievement of mental health within the current global crisis. A panel will join Professor Patel, made up of leading global voices on mental health as well as regional voices rooted in local practical programme experience. Together they will propose solutions to overcome some of these challenges and achieve better mental health outcomes for all.

Global Mental Health: Challenges and Opportunities in a Changing World

Vikram Patel, Professor for international mental health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UCL, United Kingdom

Experiences from Russia/CIS: Setting Up a Russian Counselling Association

Jennie McNamara, President, European Association for Counselling, United Kingdom

Mental and Physical Health of Kosovar Albanians in Their Place of Origin: A Post-War Six-Year Follow-Up Study

Ariel Eytan, Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry, Geneva University Hospitals, Switzerland

Capacity Building for Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Humanitarian Emergencies: Current Experiences from the Gaza Strip

Claire Colliard, Founder and Executive Director, Centre for Humanitarian Psychology, Switzerland

Challenges in Responding to Community Depression in Africa

Lincoln Ndogoni, Africa Regional Psychosocial Advisor, World Vision International, Kenya