Bibhav Acharya, MD, is an associate professor of psychiatry at UCSF, where he sees patients, conducts research, and directs a fellowship in global mental health. He is the co-founder of Possible, a non-profit that has administered over $35 million in healthcare innovation in rural Nepal. Anne E. Becker, MD, PhD, is the Maude and Lillian Presley Professor of Global Health and Social Medicine, Professor of Psychiatry, and Dean for Clinical and Academic Affairs at Harvard Medical School.
"""This is a monumental piece that provides an entry point for learners—and their mentors, too—to explore key dimensions of global mental health research and practice. It is grounded, wise, and practical. An inclusive approach is critical, and here the many diverse authors show us a path forward."" – Dr. Elizabeth H. Bradley, President of Vassar College, and Founder of Yale Global Health Leadership Institute. ""Global mental health can often be seen as something that academics write about and discuss with other academics in scientific conferences. The book by Acharya and Becker clearly and conclusively demonstrates that key lessons of global mental health can be learned and practiced much more widely and can change the way mental health is conceptualized and delivered. A must read for all teachers, students, and practitioners of mental health everywhere!"" – Dr. Shekhar Saxena, Professor of the Practice of Global Mental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health; Former Director, Mental Health, World Health Organization. ""This Introductory Framework relies on the distillation of decades of work in global mental health to offer learners and their mentors an outstanding balanced grounding in this increasingly fundamental approach to overcoming the worldwide impact of racism, colonialism, and economic exploitation. Its chapters cover conceptual foundations, history, overall practical guidance, specific applications, case examples, research agendas, and current critiques. It’s a terrific one-volume introduction to everything one needs to know in global mental health."" – Dr. Roberto Lewis-Fernández, Professor of Clinical Psychiatry, Columbia University; Director, Center of Excellence for Cultural Competence and Research Area Leader, Anxiety, Mood, Eating and Related Disorders, New York State Psychiatric Institute. ""The Global Mental Health field has matured. It’s the urgently needed ""next system"" to deliver on the increasingly acknowledged priority of safeguarding mental health across all levels of governance. It brings an overdue makeover to long dominant Global North over-medicalized traditions, and rigor and space to a more Global South epistemology that converges holistic, social, and empowering ground rules. A harvest of wisdom on how to grow and teach that is wonderfully brought together in this important and timely volume."" – Dr. Gary Belkin, Director, Billion Minds Project, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, and Chair, COP2."