United for Global Mental Health

🤝Across East Africa, governments, advocates, and development partners are working together to strengthen community-led mental health systems that deliver real change for people on the ground, advancing our shared goal of deinstitutionalisation and integration of mental health into community and primary health care. The East African Mental Health Summit 2025, hosted by the Ministry of Health (Uganda) in partnership with StrongMinds Uganda and regional partners, created space for dialogue and collaboration around scalable innovations for mental health integration across sectors. We were pleased to see Being Initiative partners TAHMEF, represented by Dr. Juliana Busasi, and the Africa Academy for Public Health (AAPH), represented by Innocent Yusufu, share insights on youth-led digital innovations and the need for integrated multisectoral approaches. Faith Nassozi Kyateka represented the organisation, delivered a presentation on translating global commitments from #UNGA80 into national action, and joined a panel discussion exploring opportunities to strengthen domestic and international financing for mental health. 📜Vincent Mujune, Country Director, StrongMinds Uganda, shared that "the East African Mental Health Summit has developed the Kampala call to action, outlining shared regional commitments and actionable strategies to strengthen policies and systems for community mental health services across the region.” 🌍As global conversations move from #UNGA80 toward national implementation, this summit marks an important step in ensuring that policy commitments are matched with action and that communities remain at the heart of sustainable mental health reform. Being Initiative, Fondation Botnar, and Grand Challenges Canada

We are tracking critical work at CPHIA 2025, where the focus is firmly on accelerating Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and championing African self-reliance through local manufacturing and sustainable financing. Earlier today, our Senior Policy Officer for Children and Youth, Aviwe Funani, contributed vital insight during the session on integrating cervical cancer prevention into primary care. Aviwe highlighted a key intersection between physical and mental health: "Mental ill health and lower wellbeing can be a huge barrier to physical health interventions. To reach girls and young women with cervical cancer prevention programmes, we need to consider their mental health." This underscores the need to embed mental health support into all primary health interventions to truly achieve UHC across the continent. Africa CDC, WACI Health, Global Fund Advocates Network #CPHIA2025 #PublicHealth #MentalHealthMatters #AfricaCDC #OneWorldOnefight

We're looking forward to this year’s International Conference on Public Health in Africa (CPHIA 2025)! Organised by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), CPHIA is the largest health conference globally and the continent's flagship public health convening. It provides a unique African-led platform for leaders to share innovative, practical, and evidence-based solutions to Africa’s health challenges. CPHIA 2025 aims to accelerate the move toward universal health coverage and champion African self-reliance by addressing critical areas like local manufacturing of health products, sustainable health financing, and pandemic preparedness. The conference will feature eight key tracks, including: *Mental Health Systems Reforms to Achieve UHC and Health Equity. *Advancing self-reliance via innovative and sustainable health financing. *Strengthening health security by addressing climate change and One Health. *Empowering a healthier Africa through digital innovation and artificial intelligence. CPHIA 2025 will amplify an African-led agenda that influences decision-making at major global platforms, including the upcoming G20 in South Africa. https://cphia2025.com/ #CPHIA2025 #AfricaCDC #PublicHealth #UniversalHealthCoverage #MentalHealthMatters

We echo the International Alliance of Mental Health Research Funders (IAMHRF) call for collective action to strengthen evidence, coordination, and sustainable financing for mental health. The momentum from #UNGA80 shows what’s possible when global partners come together to put mental health at the heart of development. 💡Follow IAMHRF’s post for deeper insights and to read our op-ed on why it’s time to rethink mental health financing through a systems lens.

Integrating mental health into HIV and TB programmes is not just good practice; it’s essential for improving health outcomes and saving lives. Thank you, Elton John AIDS Foundation, for making mental health support a core part of the HIV and TB response through this partnership. 🔗 Check out the EJAF post below to learn more about our partnership and shared work.

⭐ We are delighted to announce the new Advisory Group (2025-2027) of the Global Mental Health Action Network! ⭐ 🌍 Our Advisory Group comprises 18 elected and appointed members, representing geographical regions around the world and major international mental health organisations. Our Advisors, along with our Working Group Co-Chairs and our Secretariat, make up our GMHAN Leadership Group, which is our main steering and accountability mechanism that ensures that our Network remains truly member-driven! Meet our Advisory Group: 🔹 Sarah Kline, appointed, representing United for Global Mental Health 🔹 Devora Kestel, appointed, observer, representing the World Health Organization 🔹 Giovanni Sala, appointed, observer, representing the World Health Organization 🔹 Ann Willhoite, appointed, representing UNICEF 🔹 Emma Rawson-Te Patu, appointed, representing the World Federation of Public Health Associations 🔹 Thomas G. Schulze, appointed, representing the World Psychiatric Association (WPA) 🔹 Djavila Ho, appointed, representing the Global Psychology Alliance 🔹 Ogenyi Isaac Agbo, elected, representative of Africa 🔹 Opiyo Martin, elected, representative Africa 🔹 Sasha Hajj-Assaf, elected, representative of the Eastern Mediterranean Region 🔹 Dion Ras, elected representative of the European Union  🔹 Yevheniia Usychenko, elected, representative of Europe (non-EU) 🔹 Tabitha Ellis, elected, representative of the Americas 🔹 Lucero Andaluz Llerena, elected, representative of the Americas 🔹 Priti Sridhar, elected, representative of India 🔹 Malki Umeshika Lokuge, elected, representative of the South East Asian region 🔹 Matthew Jackman BSW (Hons) GradCert Madstudies MASW, elected, representative of the Western Pacific region 🔹 Mei Li, appointed, representative of China 👉🏽 https://gmhan.org/people 📣 Not a member of GMHAN? Joining the Network will connect you with 8,000+ members who share your commitment to good mental health for all. You will have access to the latest news and resources from across the sector and unique perspectives from around the world. All members have special access to our online community platform, Circle. On Circle, you can network with changemakers, participate in exclusive events, and share success stories with advocates in 170+ countries - all in real-time! Membership is free for everyone. Register now! 🔗 https://gmhan.org/join #MHForAll #MentalHealthAdvocacy #GlobalMentalHealth

For World Mental Health Day, I had the privilege of sitting down with Morra Aarons-Mele to discuss how we can better support mental health at work, especially within high-performing teams. Our conversation focused on practical, everyday actions that leaders and colleagues can take to create healthier, more sustainable ways of working. At A&O Shearman, we take mental health seriously and are committed to turning awareness into action. As part of that commitment, we’re proud to partner with United for Global Mental Health as our global social impact partner over the next two years—championing support for children and young people. We aim to raise at least USD1 million and provide significant pro bono and in-kind support. We look forward to a meaningful and impactful partnership. Thank you, Morra, for an insightful and important conversation. #AOShearman #WorldMentalHealthDay 

These suicide statistics are truly devastating. Caribbean countries have reported troubling increases in child, youth, and male deaths by suicide over the past year alone. When suicide remains criminalised, it traps families in stigma and blocks access to essential help. We must act now. We are supporting UNICEF Eastern Caribbean’s critical signature campaign to drive the decriminalisation of suicide. We urgently need your support to: Amplify the need for robust, life-saving support mechanisms across the Caribbean. Decriminalise suicide in Trinidad & Tobago, St. Lucia, and Grenada. Your voice is a powerful tool for change. Sign and share this petition today to accelerate urgent support for those in crisis and ensure care, not punishment, is the standard response. Please sign here: https://lnkd.in/em84DBCq  Bertrand Moses Maria Divina O'Brien Desarie Nicholas, LCSW Leon Cherry Reseda Ramkhelawan Dr. David Johnson Africa Suicide Prevention Association- (ASPA) Foday Sarr CariCope Wellness Alliance Let's Unpack It (LUI) Mindwise Project #DecriminaliseSuicide #MentalHealthAdvocacy #PublicHealth

Suicide accounts for more than 727,000 deaths globally every year. For every person lost, there are about 20 suicide attempts. When suicide is criminalised, it perpetuates stigma, prevents people in crisis from seeking help, and isolates families. We are delighted to announce the launch of the Caribbean Suicide Decriminalisation Coalition’s new website. This coalition brings together mental health advocates, policymakers, and CSOs to drive legislative reform across the Caribbean, where this outdated colonial-era law persists in four nations - Grenada, St. Lucia, The Bahamas, and Trinidad & Tobago. The new website is a vital resource detailing the movement's progress, strategy, and calls to action. The goal is clear: to treat suicide as a public health issue, not a crime, following the successful steps taken by Guyana, Ghana, and Pakistan. By supporting this work, we are reducing barriers to help-seeking and ensuring that care, not punishment, is the standard response to distress. Explore the progress, read the stories and join the fight for change today. https://csdcoalition.org/ Mindwise Project CariCope Wellness Alliance Let's Unpack It (LUI) #DecriminaliseSuicide #Caribbean #MentalHealthAdvocacy #PublicHealth #StigmaReduction