Towards Equitable Collaboration in MHPSS
Key reflections from leading experts
In October 2025, we welcomed participants to our symposium “Towards Equitable Collaboration in Global Mental Health”, bringing together early-career researchers and thought leaders from the Global South and Global North to explore how collaboration in global mental health can become more equitable and practically grounded.
Global mental health is at a crossroads
Early Global Mental Health efforts to expand care through scalable interventions sparked important critiques about the presumed universality of diagnoses, conceptual frameworks and treatment models, as well as the lack of attention to social and structural determinants of mental health. The closely related MHPSS field has made major contributions in humanitarian settings, yet increasing standardisation efforts raise concerns about how local knowledge is incorporated and how equity issues are addressed.
The core challenge
A central question remains: how can we truly foster equitable partnerships when existing global hierarchies continue to influence funding flows, agenda-setting, and governance structures? In this short video compilation, some of our symposium participants share their reflections on what it takes to foster equitable collaboration in global mental health and MHPSS.
Reflections from the participants
We captured reflections from participants throughout the symposium, bringing together diverse perspectives from the Global South and North. They share their experiences, lessons learned, and concrete suggestions for fostering more equitable collaboration in global mental health and MHPSS.
- ARQ Endowed Professor Wietse Tol
>> on Rethinking Collaboration in Global Mental Health - Medical anthropologist Ananda Galappatti
>> on the Need of Transforming the MHPSS Field - Psychologist and researcher Iryna Frankova
>> on Empowering and Engaging Diverse Voices - Psychiatrist and anthropologist Brandon Kohrt
>> on the Future of Global Mental Health - MHPSS and peacebuilding expert Sarah van der Walt
>> on Equalising MHPSS Knowledge - Postdoctoral Fellow Prasansa Subba
>> on Navigating Structural Injustice - MHPSS expert Mukasa Moses Bwesige
>> on Co-Creating MHPSS Knowledge and Practice
Join the Conversation
Equitable collaboration is a shared journey, and your insights can make a difference. Follow us on LinkedIn to share your perspectives, contribute ideas, and help shape the future of global mental health and MHPSS partnerships.
Join the conversation
We would love for experts, practitioners, and researchers to share their experiences, ideas, and insights on how to make global mental health and MHPSS partnerships fairer and more effective.
