Symposium: Mental Health in Developing Countries

The International Network for Cooperation in Mental Health (i.nez), the Global Mental Health Group from the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy of the Ludwig-Maximilians- Universität München and the Center for International Health CIH^LMU , hosted the 9th International Symposium on “Global Mental Health - Mental Health in Developing Countries”. The symposium was open to all health professionals, medical anthropologists and students interested in the topic.

Over half a billion of the world’s population is suffering from either neuropsychiatric disorders or from alcohol or drug dependence. The vast majority of these people are in developing countries. Most of them receive no appropriate treatment - many are stigmatized with prejudice and social exclusion. This leads to serious psychological, physical, social, and economic damage. At least 20% - 30% of patients in developing countries who visit primary care facilities and about 50% who visit traditional healers suffer from one or more neuropsychiatric disorders. There is no doubt that traditional healing plays an important role in treating mental illness. Therefore, this year’s symposium was focused on traditional healing as well as on service development regarding mental health in low income countries.

Symposium Program

Organized by:
Dr. Wolfgang Krahl, i.nez - International Network for Cooperation in Mental Health e.V.
Dr. Kristina Adorjan, GMHG - Global Mental Health Group at CIH^LMU
Prof. Dr. Matthias Siebeck, CIH^LMU - Center for International Health