Centre for

The Centre for Mental Health and Human Rights at the Institute of Mental Health has been designated a World Health Organization (WHO) collaborating centre on Mental Health, Disabilities and Human Rights.

Under the joint directorship of Professors Martin Orrell (Director, Institute of Mental Health) and Peter Bartlett (Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust Professor of Mental Health Law), the designation began in April 2020 for a four-year term and was renewed in April 2024 for another four years. 

This collaborative partnership utilises the knowledge and expertise of the members of the Institute of Mental Health’s Centre for Mental Health and Human Rights to support the development and understanding of this area within the WHO’s policy, education, legal and advocacy programmes.

WHO collaborating centres are institutions such as research institutes, parts of universities or academies, which are designated by the WHO’s Director-General to carry out activities in support of the Organization's programmes. Currently there are over 800 WHO collaborating centres across the globe, working with WHO on areas such as nursing, occupational health, communicable diseases, nutrition, mental health, chronic diseases and health technologies. Collaborating centres represent a valuable resource as an extended and integral arm of WHO’s capacity to implement its mandated work.

Since its creation, the WHO Collaborating Centre for Mental Health, Disabilities and Human Rights has:

• Assisted the WHO in assessing the effectiveness and impact of WHO education programmes relating to mental health and human rights, in particular related to the WHO’s QualityRights training programmes. Publications have been made in BMC Public Health;  BMC Psychiatry; and the International Journal of Mental Health Systems. Further work is also underway panalysing the qualitative impact of the QualityRights training programme in Ghana.
• Assisted with the development, maintenance and promotion of WHO resources relating to mental health and human rights – most notably the WHO’s MiNDBank web resource of laws and official policies relating to all aspects of mental health and mental disability.
• Worked with WHO in the development of best practice guidance related to topics in mental health and human rights – in particular services and supports that promote recovery and human rights for people with dementia in line with UN Convention for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). The Collaborating Centre team have completed a content analysis of national dementia plans to illustrate how far they cover human rights which is being written up for publication. In addition a global survey of dementia services has been completed to identify compliance with good practice in human rights as well comprehensive online searches for services.
• Worked under the guidance of WHO, providing advice on legal structures, mental health/disability law, human rights both generally and in the specific context of dementia and also to assist WHO with capacity building.

Michelle Funk, Unit Head for Policy, Law and Human Rights, Dept of Mental Health and Substance Use at the World Health Organization commented:

“We are excited to embark on this collaboration with the Institute of Mental Health.  The wealth of expertise and experience that they bring make them an ideal partner in promoting access to good quality care, services and supports respect for the rights of people with psychosocial, cognitive and intellectual disabilities in countries across the world.”

Professor Peter Bartlett said of the designation: 

“Recent events have highlighted the importance of WHO as the primary body for promotion of health internationally. The current global emergency highlights the importance of a voice for human rights and for people experiencing mental health problems. This has never been more important. We are proud to stand with the WHO in this mission.”

Professor Martin Orrell said:

“For several years the Institute of Mental Health’s Centre for Mental Health and Human Rights has been working with Dr Michelle Funk and Nathalie Drew Bold at the WHO on initiatives around mental health and human rights. It is a tremendous achievement to see our partnership endorsed with the designation of an official collaborating centre.

“Our work at the Institute of Mental Health has always been about the human rights of people with mental health difficulties. This designation also emphasises the importance of law and the social sciences in care and policy, and the impact of mental health issues in people’s daily lives.”

 

As part of the four-year work plan for the collaborating centre, additional work has been completed by the below interns:

 

Shi Tang

Shi Tang is a Master of Public Health student at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health, specializing in health policy and Comparative Effectiveness Outcomes Research. She completed her undergraduate study at New York University, with a bachelor's degree in economics, policy track. Her academic and research interests focus on the intersection of health equity and human rights. Shi is passionate about applying research to inform global health policy and social justice initiatives. In her free time, she likes baking, photographing, and traveling to new places all around the world.

 

Selina Hsuan

Selina is a Master of Public Health candidate at the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health in New York City. She is pursuing her degree in the Health Policy and Management department with a certificate in Applied Biostatistics and Public Health Data Science. After graduating, she hopes to work on reducing inefficiencies in the U.S. healthcare system with a focus on improving patient experience through digital health products. She is particularly interested in improving access to mental health care, especially for marginalized communities. Selina is from the San Francisco Bay Area and enjoys reading, going to concerts, and eating at new restaurants in her free time.

 

Justin E. Weiss

Justin is pursuing a Master of Public Health in Health Policy and Management at the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health in New York, with an expected graduation date of May 2024. He completed his undergraduate study at the University at Buffalo, with a bachelor’s degree in Public Health, and a certificate in Journalism. Prior to graduate school, Justin worked with non-profits in the Bronx and Long Island to advance various public health goals, and as managing editor of an award-winning student newspaper. In his free time, Justin can be found hiking, running marathons, or playing baseball.

 

Yinuo Mao

Yinuo Mao currently is studying Master of Healthcare Administration at Columbia University (Mailman School of Public Health). She is an alumna of Case Western Reserve University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing. Her employment aim is to improve access to healthcare and hopes to use nursing and management skills to make a positive impact on the lives of people in the community. In her free time, she enjoys swimming for relaxation and playing golf to meet new people and develop social relationships.