Published in News, Funding & opportunities
GACD mental health launch on World Health Day 2018
GACD funds largest investment into Global Mental Health
On World Health Day, The Global Alliance for Chronic Diseases is launching its Global Mental Health Programme. With over USD 70 million of investment, this global financing of an implementation science approach into mental health research is the GACD’s most ambitious to date.
Thirty-Four projects span the globe from Austria to Zimbabwe, connecting mental health research and development regardless of economic status or gender. This approach to Universal Health Coverage is reflected clearly in the breadth of project content.
Shekar Saxena, Director of the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse (MSD), WHO
“Increased coverage of care for people with mental disorders is one of the important objectives of World Health Organization’s Mental Heath Action Plan. GACD’s substantial investment in implementation research will provide valuable evidence on how to achieve this objective in diverse settings. WHO very much welcomes this initiative. “
The combined Funding from the GACD’s fourteen member agencies marks a commitment by global funders to ease the burden of mental health in low and middle-income countries and vulnerable populations in high-income countries.
Glenda Gray, Chair GACD
“The GACD’s investment into global mental health research on such a large scale marks an important step for joint funding. With our unique approach to NCD research through implementable solutions, the GACD is easing the burden of mental health in Low Income settings worldwide.”
The projects tackle a vast array of research solutions into dementia, depression, schizophrenia, wellbeing, mental health first aid kits, suicide prevention, psychosis and ADHD. Each project unites teams from low income and high-income countries, whilst learning from other NCD research in the GACD research portfolio.
David Peiris, The George Institute for Global Health, UNSW Sydney
“Being a multi award recipient on GACD funded hypertension, diabetes and mental health programmes has allowed our team to be exposed to cutting edge knowledge and invaluable shared learnings, which highlights the unique impact of GACD research and the network it provides.”
The GACD’s unique implementation science approach is reflected in the creative content of its projects. A friendship bench in Zimbabwe, cognitive stimulation therapy for dementia in Brazil, India and Tanzania and the Prevention of Dementia using Mobile phone Applications (PRODEMOS) in the Netherlands, CHINA, UK, France, Luxemburg and Sweden, highlight just a few of the projects in the full programme. For further details visit www.gacd.org.
Together, the members of the alliance represent over 80% of public health research funding worldwide. Members of the alliance are:
Australia’s National Health and Medical Research Council
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences
The U.K.’s Medical Research Council
The U.S.’s National Institutes of Health
Indian Council of Medical Research
South African Medical Research Council
European Commission’s Health Directorate in the Research & Innovation DG
Mexico’s National Institute of Medical Sciences and Nutrition Salvador Zubirán
Thailand’s Health Systems Research Institute
Argentina’s Ministry of Science, Technology and Productive Innovation
The Japanese Agency for Medical Research and Development
Brazil’s São Paulo Research Foundation
New Zealand’s Health Research Council