Mental Health is finally being recognized as a global health priority. In 2013, the World Health Assembly created a Mental Health Action Plan, and in 2015, mental health was added to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. These initiatives were borne out of the urgent need for improved strategies regarding mental health promotion and prevention of mental illness. In many parts of the world, especially in low- and middle- income countries, people who suffer from mental disorders are severely underserved and are more vulnerable to physical and psychological abuse. The Global Mental Health focus area of the CIH^LMU was established to improve global mental health by fostering education and dialogue between the Global South and North, as well as between low-, middle-, and high-income countries. It firmly support the belief that “there is no health without mental health.”

Echoing this principle, the Global Mental Health focus area, based at the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, LMU University Hospital, has been involved in a range of activities in Ethiopia, and, in particular, has established a close partnership with Jimma University (JU).

In 2019, Ethiopia, with a population of about 86 million, had only around 111 psychiatrists. Ethiopia is responding to this dire shortage by increasing funding and resources for mental health initiatives, although much work remains to be done. To support this mission, in 2009, JU with the support of CIH^LMU , established a two-year Master’s program (MSc) in Integrated Clinical and Community Mental Health. In addition, the CIH^LMU Global Mental Health Group has developed annual network gatherings across Ethiopia, bringing together alumni, local, and international health care workers to discuss challenges and exchange ideas. The partnership hase since expanded to include the Addis Ababa University´s School of Public Health and the St. Pauls Hospital Millenium Medical College in Addis Ababa.

The CIH^LMU also engages the international community on issues related to global mental health. This includes the annual organization of International Symposia on Global Mental Health and an annual Advanced Module in Global Mental Health. The CIH^LMU also supports research in the field. Moving forward, the CIH^LMU will continue to work diligently to strengthen ties between countries of all incomes levels and will work tirelessly to highlight the importance of thoughtful, sustainable, and effective strategies in global mental health.