Global mental health

We aim to build competencies in global mental through research and training. Our focus is the Sustainable Development Goals SDG 3.4 and 3.5 focusing on mental health and psychosocial wellbeing throughout the life span. Our interests are in line with several global and national strategies. The current strategy from the Ministry of Foreign affairs and Ministry of Health and Care services has now embraced global health in their strategy: “Bedre helse, bedre liv” 2020-2024 (Eng. Better health, better lives). Norway's International Development Strategy on Combating Non-Communicable Diseases includes mental health. The WHO Mental health action plan 2013–2020 has been extended to 2030. One of the four objectives of the action plan is to strengthen information systems, evidence and research for mental health.

Blooming flowers in front of a mountain partly covered in snow — Photo: Ingunn M. S. Engebretsen

Affiliation

About the research group

The Global mental health research group is a national research group hosted by the following institutions at University of Bergen: Centre for International Health and Centre for Crisis Psychology.

“There is No Health without Mental Health” (WHO)

We endorse “There is No Health without Mental Health” (WHO) and believe mental health research is needed to achieve the SDG Goal 3: “Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages” , and we focus particularly on:

SDG 3.4: By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being
SDG 3.5: Strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, including narcotic drug abuse and harmful use of alcohol.

We hold a strong child and adolescent focus, and engage in mental health research related to migration, poverty, emergencies, cross-cultural understanding of mental health, and clinical and public mental health matters.

Collaboration

The research group is cooperating with the Norwegian national “Network for Global Mental Health Norway (external link)”

Members of the group collaborate with partners in a wide range of countries.
Projects and collaborations include:
- Bhutan with Memorandum of Understanding with Khesar Gyalpo University of Medical Sciences of Bhutan
- Cambodia
-Demographic Republic of Congo
-Ghana
-Uganda - Makerere University
-Ethiopia
-Vietnam
- Nepal

We have also worked with private actors and NGOs including:
- Nyenga Foundation (external link)
- Save the Children
- SOS Children’s villages Norway