Dr. Vikram Patel MBBS, Ph.D. is a renowned psychiatrist, researcher, and a professor of Global Health in the Blavatnik Institute’s Department of Global Health and Social Medicine at Harvard Medical School. He co-founded and has worked as the Director of the Center for Global Mental Health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM). He is also a co-founder of the community-based NGO in India, Sangath, which won the MacArthur Foundation’s International Prize for Creative and Effective Institutions.
Dr. Patel has produced and published a number of peer-reviewed articles with a focus on epidemiology and the socio-cultural determinants and treatment of mental health disorders. With his vision for promoting mental health awareness, he has published a book entitled Where There is No Psychiatrist, which provides a comprehensive overview to help guide health professionals and social workers, particularly in developing countries. He has served as a member of three World Health Organization (WHO) Committees and several Committees of the Government of India. Most notably, he was a member of the Committee responsible for drafting India’s first National Mental Health Policy. Given his vast knowledge and experience, it is no surprise that he was listed in TIME Magazine’s 100 most influential persons in 2015.
He is also part of the EMPOWER management team at Harvard School of Medicine, a digital platform that intends to provide learners/users with a suitable curriculum and toolkit to help develop their mastery and competencies in delivering evidence-based psychosocial treatments. Dr. Patel has collaborated with the Addiction Training for Health Professionals (ATHP) program, in which he and his team contributed courses under the Professional Development Category, which include: Psychology Counseling, Alcohol Counseling, and Depression Counseling. Undoubtedly, with his commitment and passion, Dr. Patel is making significant strides toward changing the future of public health education through his advocacy for mental health.
The Addiction Training for Health Professionals (ATHP) program recognizes that substance use disorders pose a great threat to public health. The priority is to prepare healthcare professionals to adequately screen, diagnose and treat patients with substance use disorders through free courses addressing addiction and mental health concerns.
Reisha Narine MSc, BSc
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