Mission
The Global & Local Center for Mental Health Disparities at the Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine seeks to improve the mental health of diverse global communities, both locally in the greater Boston area and internationally.
History
The Boston Medical Center and the Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine Global and Local Center for Mental Health Disparities (GLCMHD) was founded in 2016 by Dr. David Henderson, Psychiatrist-in-Chief for the Division of Psychiatry at Boston Medical Center (BMC), and Dr. Christina Borba, former Vice Chair of Research for the Department of Psychiatry at BMC and an Associate Professor of Psychiatry at BU CAMED.
The lifework and mentorship of Dr. Chester M. Pierce, Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and Professor Emeritus of Education at Harvard School of Education inspired the GLCMHD. Known for his contributions to the fields of race, stress, and mental health, Dr.Pierce dedicated his pioneering work to the advocation of equitable healthcare and the promotion of cross-cultural psychiatry.
The GLCMHD is dedicated to addressing mental health disparities through collaborative, interdisciplinary, and bidirectional partnerships focused on advancing decolonial approaches and epistemic justice. We are engaged in clinical, research, and training & education initiatives globally and locally.
Highlighted Projects
The Liberia College of Physicians and Surgeons (LCPS) Psychiatry Residency Program was launched in 2019 with a goal to develop a local mental health workforce whereby native practitioners will be able to implement best practices in clinical care, education, and research.
The LCPS Psychiatry Residency Program includes integrated psychiatry and neurology training for children, adolescents, and adults, as well as public health education. The program also includes sub-specialty training in consult liaison psychiatry, neurology, geriatrics, forensics, perinatal health, community, social, and rehabilitation psychiatry, and addictions.
In 2022, the first graduates of the program increased Liberia's mental health capacity by 200%. In the following years, 2 additional psychiatrists graduated from the program in 2023, followed by another 2 graduates in 2024.
The GLCMHD is collaborating on a series of projects in Lima and Huánuco Peru including:
Peruvian National Mental Health Survey
Development of Integrated Mental Health Care in Huánuco