Mental Health Is Health

Join us virtually on Wednesday, June 26 at 2:00 p.m. ET for the USAID event, “Mental Health is Health: Redefining Mental Health in Foreign Assistance.” This event will feature a fireside chat between U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy and USAID Assistant Administrator for Global Health Dr. Atul Gawande on how the U.S. government is prioritizing mental health domestically and internationally, and where further advancements can be made. Dr. Gawande will also talk to Carol Manyele, Grassroots Soccer, on the importance of youth mental health. USAID Mental Health Coordinator Jerome Galea will open and close the event, highlighting the Agency’s mental health programming and new Mental Health Position Paper.

 Event participants include:

• Jared L. Skillings, PhD, ABPP, Chief of Professional Practice, American Psychological Association 
• Vice Admiral Vivek H. Murthy, MD, MBA, U.S. Surgeon General 
• Dr. Atul Gawande, USAID Assistant Administrator for Global Health 
• Dr. Jerome Galea, USAID Agency Mental Health Coordinator 
• Carol Manyele, Monitoring and Evaluation Manager, Grassroot Soccer 

USAID has long supported initiatives that increase access to mental health services, and now elevates this commitment with the launch of the USAID Mental Health Position Paper, our first policy document on the integration of mental health into our programs.

The effort to integrate mental health considerations into foreign assistance is shared by multiple agencies. As USAID heightens its commitment to this critical issue with the launch of this position paper, so too are our Interagency partners. USAID thanks the many stakeholders who contributed to the development of the Mental Health Position Paper over the last two years. We also extend our gratitude to the U.S. government agencies and organizations participating in this event, including the American Psychological Association, for hosting us.