About the Conference

Creativity through Crisis: Lessons from Global Mental Health

The Global Health Conference is an annual event bringing together a community of students, trainees, clinicians, researchers, and faculty from across health professions and disciplines to share knowledge. This year we will examine the intensifying impact of global events such as conflict, climate change, and COVID-19 on mental health disparities worldwide. These stressors have magnified existing inequalities and compounded existing mental health conditions, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where access to mental health services is already limited. This conference will explore both the impact of these stressors as well as innovative responses to these challenges that are helping to reshape how mental health is addressed.

Our goal is to create an inclusive discussion forum for anyone interested in global health or mental health - everyone is welcome to attend.

This is a hybrid event with both in-person and virtual options, but of course we highly encourage you to attend in-person! Coffee and lunch will be provided for registered in-person attendees. Head over to the 'Registration' page to secure your spot.

When: Thursday, April 10, 2025 | 8:30 am - 1:30 pm PDT

Where: Virtual & In-Person at the Chan Centre for Family Health Education, BC Children's Hospital

Ticket Cost:

In-Person Attendance: Free
Virtual Attendance: Free

Presenters

Keynote Speakers

Mohammed Abdulaziz • Head, Division of Disease Control and Prevention, Africa CDC

Mohamed Ibrahim • Assistant Professor, School of Social Work, University of British Columbia

Panelists

Andre Janse van Rensburg • Senior Researcher, Centre for Rural Health, University of KwaZulu-Natal
Brittney Dudar • Portfolio Manager, Global Mental Health, Grand Challenges Canada
Jura Augustinavicius • Assistant Professor, Department of Equity, Ethics, and Policy, McGill University
Kenneth Miller • Associate Professor, Educational and Counselling Psychology, and Special Education, University of British Columbia
Fahmy Hanna • Technical Officer, Department of Mental Health and Substance Use, World Health Organization

Calling all trainees!

As part of the 7th Annual Global Health Conference, the Institute for Global Health is hosting an in-person trainee networking event entitled “Rethinking Global Mental Health in Times of Crisis: A Roundtable Discussion.”

We are excited to announce that Dr. Mohammed Abdulaziz, Head of the Division of Disease Control and Prevention at Africa CDC, will be joining in person from Ethiopia. As one of the founding senior epidemiologists who led the operationalization of Africa CDC in 2016, Dr. Abdulaziz has played a pivotal role in shaping public health strategies across the African continent.

Trainees will have the unique opportunity to engage in small group discussions with Dr. Abdulaziz, exploring key topics such as the role of Africa CDC, opportunities in global health, health systems strengthening, and public health approaches to mental health.

This is an in-person-only event and will take place after the conference from 1:30 - 2:30 PM in the Chan Centre at BC Children's Hospital Research Institute. Register for the roundtable here.

Are you conducting research in global health? We are currently accepting submissions to share your work via a 2-minute pre-recorded video at the conference! [Please note that your work does not need to be related to mental health]. Submissions are due by 11:59 PM PDT on March 26th, 2025.

Head over to the Trainee Video Submissions page to learn more and submit your application.