Knowledge transfer

GLOBAL MENTAL HEALTH PROJECTS

The Global Health Hub of the German Center for Mental Health serves as a central hub for all international projects. The aim is to learn from experiences in the Global South how social and humanitarian approaches can be anchored in the respective communities. Additionally, the exchange between those affected, their relatives, and scientists should be promoted. The Global Health Hub is coordinated by Prof. Dr. Dr. Andreas Heinz (Tübingen) and Prof. Dr. Andreas Meyer-Lindenberg (Mannheim-Heidelberg-Ulm).

Networked research

Here you can find our current projects

OH-TARGET (One Health Training and ReseARch Global NETwork)Andrea Jobst

Promoting international cooperation in the field of medical education and research

Partner country
Ethiopia (Africa), Sub-Saharan Africa (Africa)

Cooperation partner
Jimma University St. Paul´s Hospital Millenium Medical College, Addis Ababa Center for International Health, Klinikum der Universität München (CIHLMU) Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Klinikum der Universität München

PI: Andrea Jobst

Duration: 2020-2029

Brain Stimulation for Ethiopia’s Advanced Mental health care (BEAM)Andrea Jobst, Surafel Worku

Establishment of a Non-invasive Brain Stimulation unit for the treatment of (treatment-resistent) depression in Addis Ababa, St. Paul´s Hospital Millenium Medical College

Partner country
Ethiopia (Africa)

Cooperation partner
St. Paul´s Hospital Millenium Medical College, Addis Ababa Center for Neurostimulation (CNS), Klinikum der Universität München (Frank Padberg, Gerrit Burkardt) Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Klinikum der Universität München

PI: Andrea Jobst, Surafel Worku

Duration: 2025-2027

Peripartal mental health in Africa- Cooperation with Uganda Birgit Derntl, Julia Siodmiak

Peripartum Mental Health in Africa: Insights from Uganda and Opportunities for Cross-Cultural Research with a matching study in both sites

Partner country
Uganda (Africa)

Cooperation partner
Dr. Catherine Atuhaire, MUST, Uganda

PI: Birgit Derntl, Julia Siodmiak

Duration: 2025-

Identification and functional annotation of genes implicated in familial autism spectrum disorder & attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder in trans-ancestry settings Fatima Mohamedelmugadam (PhD Stipendiatin, DAAD Stipendium), Eva Schulte

Partner country
Sudan (Africa)

Cooperation partner
Port Sudan Psychiatric Hospital & Qaderoon rehabilitation center/Dongola Teaching Hospital Abteilung für Psychiatrische Genomik, Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Universitätsklinikum Bonn (DZPG MUC-AUX assoziiert)

PI: Fatima Mohamedelmugadam (PhD Stipendiatin, DAAD Stipendium), Eva Schulte

Duration: 2024-2028

Technology-facilitated gender based violence and mental health among young adults Heidi Stöckl

A mixed-method study investigating the prevalence of various forms of technology-facilitated gender-based violence among young adult college students in Tanzania, as well as its association with mental health issues and the social well-being of victims. This study will be followed by a systematic review to explore the broader context of technology-facilitated gender-based violence in sub-Saharan Africa and other low- and middle-income countries.

Partner country
Sub-Saharan Africa (Africa)

Cooperation partner
Wellspring Philanthropic Foundation via the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and Brot für die Welt Scholarship Fund.

PI: Heidi Stöckl

Duration: 2024- to date

Religious delusions (Stiftung)Lasse Brandt, Christiane Montag, Felix Bermpohl

Assessment of religious delusions and radicalism in psychotic disorders

Partner country
Malawi (Africa)

Cooperation partner
Regional hospital in Mzuzu

PI: Lasse Brandt, Christiane Montag, Felix Bermpohl

Duration: 12/21-6/25

Cooperation with Tanzania Nadja Bahr, Melissa Halil , Andreas Heinz

Gemeinsame Wege in der globalen psychischen Gesundheit: Partnerschaft zwischen dem MUHAS und der Charité - Ein Austausch von Best Practice Modellen für nachhaltige Lösungen in der psychischen Gesundheit

Partner country
Tanzania (Africa)

Cooperation partner
Prof. Sylvia Kaaya, MUHAS

PI: Nadja Bahr, Melissa Halil , Andreas Heinz

Duration: 12/24 - 11/27

Mental health of persons affected by leprosy (GIZ)Shuyan Liu

Partner country
Togo (Africa)

PI: Shuyan Liu

Duration: 24-26

Reducing nutrition-related NCDs in adolescence and youth in Africa (Horizon Europe)Shuyan Liu

Partner country
Ethiopia (Africa), Burkina Faso (Africa), Ghana (Africa), Serbia (Europe), Netherlands (Europe), Nigeria (Africa), Spain (Europe), Südafrika (Europe), Tanzania (Africa), Uganda (Africa), USA (North America)

PI: Shuyan Liu

Duration: 23-26

Implementation of WHO´s care givers training for children with developmental disorders in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (DAAD)Surafel Worlu (PhD Stipediant, DAAD Stipendium), Andrea Jobst

Partner country
Ethiopia (Africa)

Cooperation partner
St. Paul´s Hospital Millenium Medical College, Addis Ababa Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Klinikum der Universität München

PI: Surafel Worlu (PhD Stipediant, DAAD Stipendium), Andrea Jobst

Duration: 2023-2026

Design and evaluation of adolescent health interventions and policies in Sub-Saharan Africa (BMBF)Till Bärnighausen; Collaborative Partner: Shuyan Liu

Partner country
Burkina Faso (Africa), Ethiopia (Africa), Ghana (Africa), Nigeria (Africa), Südafrika (Europe), Tanzania (Africa), Uganda (Africa), USA (North America)

PI: Till Bärnighausen; Collaborative Partner: Shuyan Liu

Duration: 24-28

MAISHA: Sociocultural insights to strengthen precision psychiatry (Health and Life Science Alliance)Ulrich Reininghaus (Annika Reinhold)

Exploring cultural differences in emotion regulation and collaboratively developing a blended digital and face-to-face training to strengthen adolescent mental health in Kenya and Tanzania.

Partner country
Kenia (Africa), Tanzania (Africa)

Cooperation partner
Shamiri Institute (Kenya), University of Dodoma (Tanzania), African Academy for Public Health (Tanzania), and Heidelberg Institute of Global Health (HIGH)

PI: Ulrich Reininghaus (Annika Reinhold)

Duration: 01/2024-01/2026

Research Network Samsung Medical Center/Charité (DFG)Alva Lütt, Stefan Gutwinski

Research Network for the development of global Virtual Reality-based therapeutics in Psychiatry

Partner country
South Korea (Asia)

Cooperation partner
Prof. Jeon (Samsung Medical Center), Dr. Moon

PI: Alva Lütt, Stefan Gutwinski

Duration: 12/2023-12/2024

Prism in PTSD (GrayMatters Health Ltd.)Christian Paret-Voigt

Prospektive, randomisierte kontrollierte zweiarmige Studie zur Erstellung von Leitlinien zur Integration von Prism zur PTBS-Therapie als Ergänzung zur Leitlinienbehandlung durch Auswertung der Sicherheit und Wirksamkeit von zwei (2) Therapie-Schemata und einen Beitrag zu leisten (Bereitstellung von Daten) für einen cloudbasierten Personalisierungsalgorithmus der Behandlung.

Partner country
Israel (Asia)

Cooperation partner
GrayMatters Health Ltd., Haifa, Israel

PI: Christian Paret-Voigt

Duration: 22-25

Aging and Mental HealthChristian Schmahl

Psychosocial and mental problems related to ageing and work-retirement trabsisitons

Partner country
India (Asia), Japan (Asia)

Cooperation partner
NIMHANS Bangalore, Indo-German Science and Technology Centre

PI: Christian Schmahl

Duration: 25-26

Promoting Youth Mental Health in Vietnam (GIZ/BMZ)Claudia Calvano

Capacity buildung for the promotion of evidence-based assessment and intervention for youth mental health in Vietnam

Partner country
Vietnam (Asia)

Cooperation partner
Vinh Ngo

PI: Claudia Calvano

Duration: 04/24-03/26

Cultural Perspectives on Transgender Psycho-Social Care: A Qualitative Pilot Study in Israel and Germany (Seed funding FUB / HUJI Jerusalem)Claudia Calvano

Exploration of professionals experiences in the provision of affirmative psychosocial care and counseling for transgender adolescents and young adults

Partner country
Israel (Asia)

Cooperation partner
Prof. Yochay Nadan, Hebrew University in Israel

PI: Claudia Calvano

Duration: 04/24-12/25

Child and adolescent CBT training and supervisionClaudia Calvano

Development and implementation of CBT training curriculum and subsequent supervision for child and adolescent psychotherapy

Partner country
China (Asia)

Cooperation partner
Prof. Wenhong Chen, Shanghai Mental Health Center

PI: Claudia Calvano

Duration: 08/24-12/25

Affective Societies 3. LZ (SFB 1171, DFG)Eric Hahn, Thi-Minh-TamTa

Partner country
Vietnam (Asia)

PI: Eric Hahn, Thi-Minh-TamTa

Duration: 07/23 - 06/27

Cooperation with Uzbekistan, current project: BEYOND-UIrina Baskow, Andreas Heinz, Ulrike Kluge

Exploring Mental Health Challenges Among Migrant Workers from Uzbekistan through Focus Group Discussions

Partner country
Uzbekistan (Asia)

Cooperation partner
Bukhara State Medical Institute Named after Abu Ali Ibn Sino; Republican Scientific and Practical Specialized Medical Center for Mental Health

PI: Irina Baskow, Andreas Heinz, Ulrike Kluge

Duration: 3 Jahre

EQUALITY (BMZ)Kerem Böge

Empowering Mental Healthcare Capacities for the LGBTQI+ Community through Evidence-Based Measures

Partner country
Vietnam (Asia)

Cooperation partner
Prof. Nguyen Hoai Bac, Hanoi University

PI: Kerem Böge

Duration: 12/2024-12/2026

LEVERAGE (BMZ)Kerem Böge

Multilevel assessment of stakeholder’s perspectives for Mental Health System strengthening in Vietnam

Partner country
Vietnam (Asia)

Cooperation partner
Prof. Nguyen, Hanoi University

PI: Kerem Böge

Duration: 03/2023-02/2025

CLALITLasse Brandt, Kerem Böge, Stuke, Malek Bajbouj

Assessment of environmental impacts on mental health

Partner country
Israel (Asia)

Cooperation partner
Ran Balicer (Clalit)

PI: Lasse Brandt, Kerem Böge, Stuke, Malek Bajbouj

Duration: 06/25-06/27

ERU Affective Polarization (Einstein)Malek Bajbouj

Investigation of the impact of affective polarisation on mental health in Germany and the Middle East

Partner country
Israel, Palestinian territories (Asia)

Cooperation partner
Ran Balicer (Clalit), Bara Asfour (Arab-American University Palestine), Talal Shawan (Birzeit University)

PI: Malek Bajbouj

Duration: 11/24-10/27

SHELTERS (AA)Malek Bajbouj

Development of a digital mental health and resilience ecosystem for vulnerable populations in times of war

Partner country
Israel (Asia)

Cooperation partner
Ran Balicer (Clalit)

PI: Malek Bajbouj

Duration: 12/24-12/25

PRODIGY (BUA)Malek Bajbouj, Thi-Minh-Tam Ta, Eric Hahn

Development of an robust evidence-based intervention against postpartum depression in an PPI approach

Partner country
Vietnam (Asia), Jordan (Asia)

Cooperation partner
Nathir Obeidat (University of Jordan, Amman)

PI: Malek Bajbouj, Thi-Minh-Tam Ta, Eric Hahn

Duration: 01/23-12/25

Hospital Partnership for MH in Syria (GIZ)O. Khadra

Ukrainian-German Hospital Partnerships: The project is currently in the application stage.

Partner country
Syria (Asia)

PI: O. Khadra

Duration: 2025-2027

NETPALTarek Jebrini

Building capacity for the scale up and delivery of evidence-based trauma care for traumatised Palestinian children and adolescents

Partner country
Palestinian territories (Asia)

Cooperation partner
vivo international, NET Institute (Maggie Schauer, Elisabeth Kaiser, Thomas Elbert) and University of Bielefeld, Institut für interdisziplinäre Konflikt- und Gewaltforschung (Tobias Hecker, Project PI)

PI: Tarek Jebrini

Duration: 2025 - to date

GENESIS (PGC, Stanley Centre, Broad)Thi-Minh-Tam Ta, Eric Hahn

Partner country
Vietnam (Asia)

PI: Thi-Minh-Tam Ta, Eric Hahn

Duration: 01/22-12/24

Implementation DBT Vietnam (DFG)Thi-Minh-Tam Ta, Eric Hahn, Kerem Böge

Partner country
Vietnam (Asia)

PI: Thi-Minh-Tam Ta, Eric Hahn, Kerem Böge

A BIG NET VIETNAM (Stanley, Broad)Thi-Minh-Tam Ta, Eric Hahn, Stephan Ripke

Partner country
Vietnam (Asia)

PI: Thi-Minh-Tam Ta, Eric Hahn, Stephan Ripke

Duration: 01/23-12/25

Orygen Youth Mental HealthAndreas Heinz, Selin Icoez, Julie O'Sullivan, Ulrike Kluge

Partner country
Australia (Australia/Oceania)

PI: Andreas Heinz, Selin Icoez, Julie O'Sullivan, Ulrike Kluge

PERMANENT (DAAD)Kerem Böge

EMA/EMI Implementation for Severe Mental Illnesses

Partner country
Australia (Australia/Oceania)

Cooperation partner
Neil Thomas, Melbourne University

PI: Kerem Böge

Duration: 04/2024-03/2026

Anti-Stigma intervention for Ukranian Refugees Alexander Moldavski

RCT to increase the uptake of MH services of ukrainan refuguees

Partner country
France (Europe), USA (North America)

Cooperation partner
Luc Behaghel (Paris School of Economics); Ester Duflo (MIT); Nicolas Rüsch (Uniklinik Ulm); Alexandra Avdeenko (Weltbank)

PI: Alexander Moldavski

Duration: 10/2023-10/2025

EMDR Training in Ukraine (GIZ)Alexander Moldavski

Capacity buildung for evidence based PTSD treatment in Ukraine; Promotion of EMDR based group therapy

Partner country
Ukraine (Europe)

Cooperation partner
Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University;Kharkiv National Medical University; IPSI (Chmelnizkiy)

PI: Alexander Moldavski

Duration: 12/2024-12/2026

Ukrainian-German Hospital Partnership: Ivano-Frankivsk RegionAndreas Bechdolf, Meryam Schouler-Ocak, Irina Baskow, Alexander Moldavski, Stephan Zipfel

Ukrainian-German Hospital Partnerships: The project is currently in the application stage.

Partner country
Ukraine (Europe)

Cooperation partner
Ivano-Frankivsk Region

PI: Andreas Bechdolf, Meryam Schouler-Ocak, Irina Baskow, Alexander Moldavski, Stephan Zipfel

Duration: 2 Jahre

EU COST Network CA23113: Auswirkungen des Klimawandels auf die psychische Gesundheit in Europa (CliMent)Julia Asbrand

Assessment of climate change–related mental health impacts in Europe and development of adaptive responses. Coordinated multi-workgroup program conducting evidence syntheses, surveys, and dissemination to identify coping/treatment strategies, test short-term behavioral interventions for societal action, and establish long-term sustainability measures.

Partner country
Südafrika (Europe), EU (Europe)

PI: Julia Asbrand

Duration: 2025-2028

https://www.cost.eu/actions/CA23113/

Solomiya (GIZ/BMZ)Malek Bajbouj

Establishment of a Ukrainian-German network of academic and large regional hospitals to promote mental health and rehabilitation

Partner country
Ukraine (Europe)

Cooperation partner
Ukrainian Ministry of Health, 42 Ukrainian (academic) hospitals

PI: Malek Bajbouj

Assessment of effects and adverse events associated with psychopharmacological treatment

Partner country
USA (North America)

Cooperation partner
John M Kane (New York), Orestis Efthimiou (Bern), John M Davis (Baltimore), Hiroyoshi Takeuchi (Tokyo)

PI: Lasse Brandt , Stefan Gutwinski, Stuke, Andreas Heinz

Duration: 06/23-12/26

A multidisciplinary approach to foster a better understanding of mechanisms of resilience to stress; establishemt of a long term cooperation with partners from Buenos Aires

Partner country
Argentina (South America)

Cooperation partner
Mariela Chertoff

PI: Vanessa Nieratschker, Lydia Kogler

Duration: 04/25 - 03/27

INCLUDE - INterCuLtUral Child DevelopmEnt Andrea Hahnenfeld

Culturally and trauma-sensitive care for children with refugee experience (interdisciplinary consultation hours and psychoeducational parent groups, Parent's College, on site at the anchor center's accommodations)

Cooperation partner
Lehrstuhl Sozialpädiatrie, TU München (Volker Mall) Klinik & Poliklinik für Psychosomatische Medizin & Psychotherapie, TU München (Sigrid Aberl, Peter Henningsen)

PI: Andrea Hahnenfeld

Duration: 2016-2026

MEHIRA: Mental Health in Refugees and Asylum SeekersFrank Padberg

Evaluation of interpreter-assisted Empowerment group intervention for refugees and asylum seekers with depressive symptoms in an outpatient setting. Multicenter randomized controlled trial to evaluate a stepped and collaborative care model for the treatment of refugees and asylum seekers with affective disorders

Cooperation partner
Malek Bajbouj, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin

PI: Frank Padberg

Duration: 2017-2020

Climate change and mental health (DGPPN)Lasse Brandt, Andreas Heinz, Alkomiet Hasan, Jurjen Luykx

Umbrella review and meta-analysis

Cooperation partner
Consortium (Vikram Patel, Cambridge; Paolo Fusar-Poli, London; and others)

PI: Lasse Brandt, Andreas Heinz, Alkomiet Hasan, Jurjen Luykx

Duration: 12/24-12/26

Spezialambulanz Transkulturelle Psychiatrie der TU München Max Burger (Leitung), Mohamed Shehata, Özgün Isik

Outpatient clinic for refugees, Arabic-speaking outpatient clinic, and Turkish-speaking outpatient clinic

Cooperation partner
Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, TU München

PI: Max Burger (Leitung), Mohamed Shehata, Özgün Isik

Duration: ongoing

Outpatient Department for people with a background of intercultural Migration (Migrationsambulanz)Oliver Pogarell

Eingebettet in die Psychiatrische Institutsambulanz (PIA) im Rahmen der multiprofessionellen Versorgung und aufsuchender Tätigkeit

PI: Oliver Pogarell

Duration: ongoing

Ambulanz für Menschen mit interkulturellem Migrationshintergrund (Migrationsambulanz LMU)Oliver Pogarell

Embedded in the Psychiatric Institute Outpatient Clinic (PIA) as part of multi-professional care and outreach work

Cooperation partner
Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Klinikum der Universität München

PI: Oliver Pogarell

Duration: ongoing

IMPROVE-MH-StudieSilvia Schneider, Karoline Lukaschek, Jochen Gensichen

Primary care treatment program to promote mental health among Arabic-speaking refugee parents and their children

Cooperation partner
Institut für Allgemeinmedizin, Klinikum der Universität München Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Fakultät für Psychologie, Klinische Kinder- und Jugendpsychologie

PI: Silvia Schneider, Karoline Lukaschek, Jochen Gensichen

Duration: 2019-2025