Trauma and Global Health Program

The Trauma and Global Health Program stems from a partnership between the Douglas Institute - McGill University and research teams based in Guatemala City (Guatemala), Khatmandu (Nepal), Lima (Peru), and Colombo (Sri Lanka). Two additional teams, based in Gaza (Palestine), and Bujunbura (Burundi), have also expressed their interest to become members of this global health research initiative. Our TGH program is funded by the Global Health Research Initiative - Teasdale-Corti Team Grants Program and supported by the Douglas Mental Health University Institute and McGill University.

Although psychological trauma has been a central concern for medical practitioners working with veterans and refugees, less attention has been paid to the mental health of civilian populations which have been confronted with extreme adversities and organized violence, such as armed conflict, wars and political upheaval, including natural disasters. Government programs, humanitarian organizations and international agencies engaged in relief operations and post conflict stabilization, have adopted models of clinical and psychosocial intervention developed in western settings that are assumed to be widely applicable, but remain of limited social and cultural relevance and uncertain therapeutic efficacy.

The global program will enable country teams to conduct a research and action program of advanced studies, continuing education, and knowledge transfer in the social and cultural dimensions of mental health. The ultimate objective of the program is to reduce the mental health burden of civilian populations exposed to protracted and endemic political violence and episodic natural disasters, foster the process of healing, psychosocial rehabilitation and recovery, and generate improved mental health policies and services in the participating countries.

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