Our Mission
The Columbia-WHO Center for Global Mental Health is dedicated to advancing the identification, assessment, and treatment of mental, neurological, and substance use disorders worldwide.
Our mission is to reduce the global burden of mental disorders, diminish stigma, and increase access to the most appropriate forms of treatment. Our work aims to ensure that people with mental health needs have access to the most effective and acceptable services at the point at which they are most likely to encounter opportunities for care.
Our center focuses on advocacy, research, and training initiatives to make a meaningful impact worldwide. In pursuit of these objectives, we employ a variety of strategies, such as:
- Working with WHO, WHO regional offices, WHO member states, and other institutions to develop methods for assessing the mental health status of their populations, including the epidemiology of mental, neurological and substance use disorders and the impact of other important contributing factors, such a climate change and migration
- Conducting applied research that addresses the mental health treatment gap in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), advancing the development, implementation, and dissemination of interventions in these region
- Producing and facilitating training resources and materials that build capacity for research and clinical care in low-resource settings
- Providing opportunities for research, mentorship and collaboration to scholars at different stages of their development
Our History
The Columbia University Global Mental Health Program (CUGMHP), was established in 2012 under the leadership of Dr. Kathleen M. Pike and was designated as a WHO Collaborating Center in 2015. Dr. Geoffrey Reed, a consultant to WHO Department of Mental Health and Substance Use for more than 15 years, served as a liaison between WHO and the Global Mental Health Program during that time, leading programmatic efforts as a part of the Collaborating Center work plan. In 2023, the Center initiated a new chapter as the Columbia-WHO Center for Global Mental Health with Dr. Reed as its Director.
Open Letter in Support of WHO
The decision by the US government to halt funding to the World Health Organization (WHO) as well as international aid programs and a wide swath of research projects has led to serious consequences. Eighty percent of WHO country offices have experienced significant disruptions. There is evidence that short-term reductions in critical health programmes lead to long-term economic losses from increased disease burden, reduced productivity, increased treatment costs, and the broader economic toll of uncontrolled outbreaks. Public health concerns demand coordinated national and international responses. WHO has a crucial role in responding to unprecedented global health challenges, but is currently encountering considerable operational challenges. In this open letter, our Center— along with current and former directors and members of WHO Collaborating Centres across more than 90 member states— stands in support of WHO. We call on member state leaders, donors, and partners to reaffirm their commitment to global health by continuing to invest in WHO to promote health and safety while helping vulnerable populations worldwide. Our Center Director, Dr. Geoffrey Reed, is listed as signatory #365.
Click to read the open letter or the response from Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreysus, Director-General of WHO.
Our Team
Dr. Geoffrey M. Reed is the Director of the Columbia-WHO Collaborating Center and Professor of Medical Psychology, Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons. Dr. Reed led the development of the classification of mental, behavioural, and neurodevelopmental disorders in the Eleventh Revision of WHO’s International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11), approved by the 72nd World Health Assembly in 2019 and now being implemented around the world.
Dr. Ohemaa Poku oversees several programs as Director of Education and Training Initiatives for the Columbia-WHO Center for Global Mental Health. As supervisor of our Center Initiatives and researcher, Dr. Poku contributes her extensive knowledge and experience in global mental health research, implementation, and training.
Kristen Reichardt
Kristen Reichardt serves as the Administrative Manager for the Columbia-WHO Center for Global Mental Health. In this role, she offers comprehensive logistical, financial, and program support to the research and programming team, ensuring the smooth operation and advancement of the Center’s initiatives.
Milli Wijenaike-Bogle is a recent graduate of Columbia’s Mailman School of Public Health. She began work with the Columbia-WHO Center for Global Mental Health as a practicum student, continued as a research assistant and is now working full time as a Project Manager. In her current role, Milli provides technical support to ongoing Center projects, including a special focus on the intersection of climate change, mental health, and migration.
Susanne Matte-Ramsdell is the Course Coordinator for the Global Mental Health Academy, where she supports the training of health professionals in the diagnosis of mental, behavioral and neurodevelopmental disorders based on the ICD-11. Additionally, she contributes to the philanthropic and networking efforts of the Columbia-WHO Center’s International Advisory Board. Having grown up in Mexico City in an American and Chilean family, Susanne brings her multicultural perspective along with her research and community service experience.
María Larrea is the Program Coordinator for the Center’s Undergraduate Summer Internship Program. Her work began in 2022 as a summer intern, and since then has supported the program as a member of the internship leadership team. In her current role, she oversees each level of the internship process, from design to implementation. Additionally, as a Research Assistant, she leverages her experience as a bilingual immigrant to contribute to various of the Center’s research efforts.