Global Mental Health Course
The third Global Mental Health Short Course, titled “Global Mental Health Assessment and Measurement: Best Practices and New Directions,” was conducted from July 15 to July 19, 2024, in Kathmandu, Nepal. The course aimed to address the need for culturally adapted and validated tools for studying mental health across different cultures and contexts. The course was inaugurated by key figures in the mental health field, including Dr. Kamal Gautam (Executive Director, TPO Nepal), Dr. Brandon Kohrt (George Washington University), and Dr. Saroj Prasad Ojha (Institute of Medicine, TUTH).
Out of 185 applicants, 18 were selected, representing fields such as psychiatry, clinical psychology, and public health. The group included 15 female and 3 male early-career researchers, with two participants being non-Nepali.The course covered topics like transcultural translation and adaptation of psychometric tools, involvement of people with lived experiences (PWLEs) in measurement, innovative strategies in measurement, and psychometric analyses and validation with structured clinical tools.
Also on 15th July 2024, informal networking event was conducted with the to build and foster collaboration among early, mid, and senior career mental and behavioral health researchers. It was part of the RESHAPE project’s capacity-building initiative
The event brought together 41 participants from diverse academic backgrounds, including clinical psychology, public health, development studies, and psychiatry. Participants included members from the Global Mental Health classes of 2022, 2023, and 2024, along with organizers and facilitators from various institutions. The event had no formal agenda, allowing participants to engage in informal personal and professional conversations. Drinks and snacks were provided, and attendance was recorded upon entry.