University of Bern to Launch Global Mental Health Research Center in Collaboration with WPA

*Photo credit: University of Bern

The University of Bern is proud to announce the upcoming launch of its Competence Center of Global Mental Health Research in collaboration with the World Psychiatric Association (WPA). This groundbreaking initiative aims to elevate mental health research and education on a global scale, with a special focus on supporting Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs).

A Collaborative Effort for Global Mental Health

The establishment of the University of Bern Competence Center of Global Mental Health Research represents a strategic partnership with key stakeholders, including the Department of Health, Social Services and Integration of the Canton of Bern (GSI), the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Bern, and international partners such as the Jimma University in Ethiopia. Other collaborators include the Swiss Brain Health Initiative and the University Hospital of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy in Bern (UPD).

The primary aim of the Competence Center is to address global mental health challenges through education, research, and policy development, particularly in regions where mental health resources are limited. The Center will serve as a WPA Collaborating Center, a designation that highlights its potential as a major hub for research, higher education, and international collaboration.

Aims and Mission of the Competence Center

The new WPA Collaborating Center at the University of Bern will focus on:

• Higher Education and Training: Developing and delivering comprehensive curricula for teaching and research in the field of mental health.

• Research: Facilitating cutting-edge research projects in global mental health, with a focus on LMICs.

• Policy Development: Providing guidance and expertise to shape mental health policies on a national and international level.

  
  

The mission of the Center is to empower LMICs by offering resources that help them build sustainable mental health systems, enhance research capacity, and create a solid foundation for long-term progress in psychiatry and mental health care.

Looking Forward to the Opening Ceremony

The official opening of the University of Bern Competence Center of Global Mental Health Research took place on Friday, the 20th of September 2024, in Bern.

Dr. Djouroukoro Diallo (Initiative Afrique, University of Bern); Prof. Dr. Hugues Abriel Vice Rector Research and Innovation, Initiative Afrique, University of Bern); Prof. Dr. Kristina Adorjan (Director of the University Hospital of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy (UPD), University of Bern); Prof. Dr. Danuta Wasserman (WPA President 2023-2026); Pierre Alain Schnegg (Member of the Government, Director of Department of Health, Social Services and Integration of the Canton of Bern); Prof. Dr. Thomas G Schulze (WPA President-elect (2023-2026))

Together, we can create a brighter future for mental health care and research around the world.

Authors:

Prof. Danuta Wasserman, President, WPA

Prof. Thomas G. Schulze, President Elect, WPA

Prof. Kristina Adorjan, Director, University Hospital of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy (UPD), University of Bern