Global Mental Health-Map

A Global Map for a Global Movement

Update August 2025
--------------

This site was set up in 2011 as a collaborative project to further orient colleagues to Global Mental Health (GMH). This GMH-Map project has complemented the growing efforts to develop GMH around the world, to work collaboratively across sectors, and to promote sustainable wellbeing for all people and the planet.

Starting January 2018, we scaled back this website in light of the development of other internet-based mechanisms to track with GMH, some of the main ones being the GMH Action Network, the Mental Health Innovation Network, and the biennial WHO Mental Health Newsletter. We continue to update it with some of the new GMH-related resources as well as those from our work with our main organization, Member Care Associates. Click here for information about the GMH-Map Project. Since 2020, we have also included more resources related to another strategic domain that overlaps with GMH--Global Psychology.

We welcome collaborating on this site with colleagues and students for suggestions and updates. Contact us at Member Care Associates: MCAresources@gmail.com.
Kelly O'Donnell, PsyD and Michele Lewis O'Donnell, PsyD

---------------------------

Getting Oriented to GMH

For ongoing updates, see the various GMH newsletters and GMH websites.

Review the latest summary of our GMH orientation materials from GMH-Map.

Watch the GMH TEDTalk by Dr. Vikram Patel: Mental Health for All by Involving All.

Read GMH: Collaborating for Sustainable Development and Wellbeing.
O'Donnell, K., Eaton, J., & Lewis O'Donnell, M. Chapter one in
Behavioral Science and Health in the Global Arena--Volume Two (June 2022)

----------

GMH Defined

"GMH is a growing domain of study, research, and practice which promotes equitable mental health and wellbeing for all--locally through globally. It is international, interdisciplinary, culturally-relevant, and multi-sectoral; emphasizes the right to health and equity in health; encourages healthy behaviors and lifestyles; is committed to preventing and treating mental, neurological, and substance use conditions (MNS) especially for vulnerable populations (e.g., in settings of poverty, conflict, calamity, and trauma) and in low- and middle-income countries; and seeks to improve policies and programs; professional practices and research; advocacy and awareness; and social, structural, systemic, and environmental factors that affect mental health and wellbeing." (2023) Based on GMH: Collaborating for Sustainable Development and Wellbeing (2022) and on the initial definition in GMH: Finding Your Niches and Networks (2012)

"We acknowledge, with much appreciation, that many of the developments and directions in GMH are being shaped and implemented by colleagues out of the spotlight, on the ground, in the trenches—often unrecognized and under-funded. Thank you for your commitment and perseverance! 'All that is gold does not glitter.' Tolkien" O'Donnell, Eaton, Lewis O'Donnell (2021)

2022 WHO World Mental Health Report
"Mental health is critically important to everyone, everywhere. All over the world, mental health needs are high but responses are insufficient and inadequate. The World mental health report: transforming mental health for all is designed to inspire and inform better mental health for everyone everywhere. Drawing on the latest evidence available, showcasing examples of good practice from around the world, and voicing people’s lived experience, it highlights why and where change is most needed and how it can best be achieved. It calls on all stakeholders to work together to deepen the value and commitment given to mental health, reshape the environments that influence mental health, and strengthen the systems that care for mental health."

2025--Reaffirming our recommendations: We strongly encourage psychology and mental health-related training programs--and related health disciplines--to include this Report as a core text in at least one of their courses and in general in their training programs. We featured this Report in our July 2022 Global Integration Update. The same recommendation is for the WHO Comprehensive Mental Health Action Plan 2013-2030. We consider both of these items to be "GMH Bookends" that help to shape and support GMH resources/efforts across sectors and settings, countries and cultures.
Kelly and Michele O'Donnell

Book Series: Behavioral Science in the Global Arena, Information Age Publishing in collaboration with the Psychology Coalition at the United Nations (PCUN). New authors and ideas are welcome for upcoming chapters/volumes (colleagues and graduate students in mental health and other sectors). Contact Dr. Elaine Congress, the co-editor of this book series congress@fordham.edu.

--Volume One: Addressing Timely Issues at the United Nations and Beyond (2020)
--Volume Two: Global Mental, Spiritual Social Health (2022)
--Volume Three: Global Health Trends and Issues (2022)
--Volume Four: Children Around the World: The Future of Our Earth (2024)
--More volumes are planned

Special News 2023-2025

--Mental Health at the High-Level Political Forum and Beyond. "This virtual side event, cosponsored by the American Psychological Association, the Global Psychology Alliance, the Permanent Missions to the United Nations from Mexico and Qatar, and the World Health Organization, will address the importance of mental health at the United Nations (UN) High-Level Political Forum as well as how [it] aligns with other ongoing efforts to mainstream and advance mental health within the UN system."

--Psychology Day at the United Nations (25 June 2025)
"From Crisis to Growth: Psychological Contributions to Building Global Resilience"

--Division 52: International Psychology (American Psychological Association) has been renamed to Division 52: Society for Global Psychology!

--UN General Assembly High Level Meeting on NCDs and Mental Health (September 2024) and the Summit of the Future

--Division 52: International Psychology (American Psychological Association) has been renamed to Division 52: Society for Global Psychology!

--World Mental Health Day 10 October 2024
Theme--"It is Time to Prioritize Mental Health in the Workplace” (more information in route)

--3rd Global Mental Health Advocacy Forum (17-19 July 2024) Global Mental Health Action Network—virtual--Register HERE “DAY ONE: We will address stigma and discrimination in mental health, exploring creative strategies to tackle these pressing issues...DAY TWO: We will explore the power of storytelling to combat mental health stigma."

--Psychology Day at the United Nations--25 April 2024 (live stream) "Reducing Global Inequalities Through Education: Psychological Contributions" Psychology Coalition at the United Nations (PCUN)

--The Lancet Psychiatry Commission on Transforming Mental Health Implementation Research (March 2024)

--Financing Mental Health: The Current Situation and Ways Forward (October 2023). United for GMH (20 pages)

--World Humanitarian Day 19 August 2023 (WHD)--To commemorate this special day we are featuring a foundational work by Raymond Saner, "Manifestation of Stress and Its Impact on the Humanitarian Work of the ICRC Delegate." Political Psychology, Vol. 11, No. 4, December 1990, pp. 757-765. Very relevant and worth reading! See the WHD website for more information including the short video overview and the section with stories from survivors marking the 20th anniversary of the attack on the UN in Baghdad.

--2023 Global Mental Health Conference: Research Without Borders--register online. October 30–November 1, 2023 Location: Hybrid--NIH Campus, Natcher Auditorium, Bethesda, Maryland USA and Virtual

--Mental Health in Complex Emergencies Course (30 August-15 December 2023). The course "is designed for professionals in mental health and social work, staff in humanitarian health and protection programs and volunteers who wish to learn how to establish, enhance, or integrate mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) into humanitarian programmes...[It] course covers prevention, preparedness and response strategies that can be used with communities affected by diverse humanitarian emergencies, including conflict, post conflict, and disaster settings, and with refugees or internally displaced populations."

--Save the Date: World Mental Health Day (10 October 2023) "Mental health is a universal human right"

--16th Annul Psychology Day at the United Nations. "Psychological Contributions to Global Peace, Conflict Resolution and Equity." Thursday April 27, 2023-- 10 AM to 2 PM Eastern Standard Time (EST). Organized by the Psychology Coalition of NGOs having consultative status with the UN ECOSOC (PCUN)

--Internationalizing the Psychology Curriculum: How and Why? An excellent 75 minute webinar with several presenters, 21 April 2023, organized by APA Division 52 and PCUN. Recording HERE and power points HERE. See also Anthony Marsella's foundational article on this topic (2001).

--Integrating Mental Health into HIV and TB Programmes. "The new 5-year strategy from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria—The Global Fund Strategy (2023–2028)—includes mental health for the first time. This means the 2023-2025 allocation period is a critical moment to ensure Global Fund grants support context specific interventions for mental health."

Featured Highlights 2023--2025
--GMH Action Network Newsletter (July 2025)
--MHIN Newslette r (May 2025)
--WHO Mental Health Newsletter (April 2025)

--July 2025 announcement--GMH Action Network's Mental Health Open ---"a journal featuring Open Access, Open Peer Review, and Open Data"

--Foundational Helping Skills Training Manual: A Competency-Based Approach for Training Helpers to Support Adults (2025), WHO and UNICEF

--Guidance on Mental Health Policy and Strategic Action Plans: Five Modules (2025) WHO--watch the launch event HERE using this passcode: xm=1dZ@L (March 2025)

--Multi-Sectoral MHPSS Assessment Toolkit (May 2024) draft version for field testing throughout 2024 developed by IASC MHPSS Thematic Group on Mapping and Assessments (co-chaired by WHO and MHPSS.net) in collaboration with UN agencies (UNICEF, UNHCR and UNFPA)-webinar overview 31 July 2024

--Work Stress of Humanitarian Delegates. Raymond Saner and Lichia Saner Yiu with Nathan Eyasu and Kagan Rowland CSEND, Geneva. Applied Psychology Around the World | Vol 6, 2 (July 2024)

--The Effects of Stress on International Committee of The Red Cross (ICRC) Delegates. Raymond Saner and Lichia Saner Yiu with Nathan Eyasu, and Kagan Rowland (23 April 2024). Humanitarian Encyclopedia, Geneva Centre for Humanitarian Studies.

--See also Module One: Introduction to Stress, Resilience, and Self-Care. Kelly O’Donnell and Heidi Pidkoke (2017). In Confronting Stress and Trauma: A Resource Kit for Personnel Dealing with Violent Conflicts and Natural Disasters; (pp. 25-63). University of Worcester in association with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research. For a short overview of this topic see Unbreakable? Recognizing Humanitarian Stress and Trauma, Global Geneva (Oct-Nov 2017). Note also the UN System Workplace Mental Health and Well-being Strategy: 2024 and beyond Strategy.

--GMH--Global Mental Health: Working Across Sectors for People and Planet Wellbeing. Regent University, School of Psychology and Counseling, GMH doctoral course (2 March 2024)

--Are You a "Non"? Respecting Colleagues-Balancing Influence. Global Integration Update (October 2023)

--Internationalization of Psychology: Indicators, Challenges, Benefits and Risks (opening editorial-overview) by Claudia Zuniga and Merry Bullock-- Trends in Psychology (September 2023) special issue on Internationalization in Psychology

--UN General Assembly Resolution on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (3 July 2023)

--Grant Rich and Kelly O’Donnell (2023). Global Mental Health. In Oxford Bibliographies in Psychology. Ed. Dana S. Dunn. New York: Oxford University Press. Note--The pre-copyedited version of this article is on the GMH-Map website. "This module features resources representing key GMH developments and directions, organized into 11 sections.."

--Global Mental Health course--School of Psychology and Counseling, Regent University (18 February 2023). Video of the first half of the class (password: +$EH?B1z) moderated by Dr. Emily Hervey (course instructor)--three guest presenters share their professional and faith-based backgrounds and perspectives on GMH: Dr. Julian Eaton (UK--04'30"-22'30"), Dr. Smyrna Khalaf (Lebanon--23'-30'), and Dr. Kelly O'Donnell (USA--30'45"-49'30). Global MH-Psyc-MHPSS in the Missio Dei: Seven Foundations-Directions (Kelly's powerpoint)

--O’Donnell, K., Lewis O’Donnell, M., Eaton, J., & Valle-Trabadelo, C. (February, 2023). Supporting our graduate training programs--Collaborating with our international colleagues: Special presentations on global mental health/global psychology International Psychology Bulletin 27(1). APA Division 52, International Psychology.

--Top 20 Priority Questions for MHPSS Research in Humanitarian Settings--priorities 2021-2030 Phuong Tao Le & Wietse Tol (2023)

--Resisting Despair and Disillusion: Will It Get Worse Before It Gets Worse? Global Integration Update (January 2023)

--Going Global: How Psychologists Can Meet a World of Need (2023), edited by Craig Shealy, Merry Bullock, and Shagufa Kapadia, American Psychological Association; see the TOC and Introduction

"The challenges and goals, as we see it, continue to center around...
the collaborative, equitable, scaled up, and sustainable implementation of mental health
on behalf of wellbeing for all people and peoples, especially the most vulnerable/neglected. "

Global Integration Updates

Multi-sectoral resources to inform our work and lives linking our skills, relationships, and integrity on behalf of the wellbeing of all people and the planet. Sent monthly by Member Care Associates.

Some recent examples (100+ archived):
--Being Global Integrators--Five Foundational Perspectives to Guide and Goa Us (October 2024)
--Changing and Charting Our Course–UN Summit of Future and Pact for Future (September 2024)
--Being the People Our World Needs--Reflections on Living In Truth (June 2024)
--Are You a "Non"? Respecting Colleagues--Balancing Influence
(October 2023)
--Evil Inc: Child Sex Trafficking (August 2023)
--Halfway into the SDGs: Taking Stock--Taking Action (July 2023)
--Into the Trenches and Towers: Crucial Contributions from the Global Psychological-Behavioral-Social Sciences (May 2023)
--Uprooting Corruption in Our World and Lives--Plenaries from the International Anti-Corruption Conference (February 2023)
--Resisting Despair and Disillusion: Will it Get Worse Before it Gets Worse? (January 2023)

Keep in the forefront the opportunities for “selfless moral struggle” in partnering with others (Patel et al. 2011, p. 90) and the “duty and choice to risk one’s owns rights and well-being” on behalf of fellow humans (O’Donnell, 2011, p. 187). Develop your personal character and professional competence as a responsible global citizen. Form a global caravan for your GMH journey in the service of humanity.
Adapted from GMH: A Resource Primer for Exploring the Domain, 2012)

10 October 2017: Celebrating World Mental Health Day together at the O'Donnell's home in France outside of Geneva,
following the WHO mhGAP Forum, continuing the conversations and connecting as friends and colleagues over dinner.

GMH: Into the Future--Together!

"The GMH community must join others in the international, multi-sectoral community to advocate for solidarity in common efforts for sustainable development, locally and globally, to stir up and consolidate the best that we can be as individuals and institutions, including: greater empathy for others and mutual reliance on others; greater existential awareness of our finiteness and sense of meaning in life; and greater engagement with others for the common good and protection of the most vulnerable as well as the planet. Positively, the protracted COVID-19 pandemic provides plenty of opportunities for us all--personally, locally, and internationally--to reflect on the types of people we want to be and the types of societies we need to build. Many conversations have been started on the basis of the experience of the pandemic, which must now be operationalized into practical approaches to achieve the types of changes we have to make.

If we are to learn lessons and move towards a new way of realizing mental health and wellbeing for all, we must persevere in calling for policy and action that has compassion, equity, and rights at its heart. The call is a summons for humanity—humans helping humans. It is everyone’s responsibility. Stay the course!"

GMH: Collaborating for Sustainable Development and Wellbeing (2022). O'Donnell, K., Eaton, J., & Lewis O'Donnell, M. In E.P. Congress, H. Takooshian, & S. Osborn (Eds.), Behavioral Science and Health in the Global Arena. Information Age Publishing.

Moral Health
What does integrity have to do with wellbeing and sustainable development?
Everything!
Integrity is at the core of moral health. And moral health at all levels--like global integrity--
must be at the core of promoting and protecting wholeness for all people and the planet.
There is no "planetary health" without moral health!

See the five "spotlight events" for you from Global Integrity Day--9 June 2022.
The focus this year on the "integrity and corruption in the health sector."

The GMH-Map web site is managed by Member Care Associates, Inc. (MCA). MCA is a non-profit organization working internationally and across sectors, based in the Geneva area. We provide and develop member care resources to support the wellbeing and effectiveness of staff and their organisations (WE). In addition to member care, we consult, train, and publish in the areas of global mental health (GMH-Map), integrity/anti-corruption (Global Integrity), and humanity care (Global Integration) within the context of sustainable development for all persons, peoples, and the planet. Coordinators: Kelly O'Donnell, PsyD and Michèle Lewis O'Donnell, PsyD MCAresources@gmail.com

Click HERE to see the site's organizational endorsers.

The materials and views expressed on this site are those of the authors-contributors only and not necessarily those of Member Care Associates, Inc. or the site endorsers.