In 2007 she did a five months internship at Trieste-Italy, to get to know the experience of deinstitutionalization and territory-based project for elderly people at risk (Progetto Microarea). When working as a psychologist at a Community Mental Health Center (2007-2013), she engaged on creating collectively the Guarulhos’s Mental Health Forum and developing a radio program concerning mental health (Radio Imprevisível).

In 2012 Adélia Capistrano started the International Master in Mental Health, Policy and Services at Nova University of Lisbon. Since April 2013, she works as the coordinator of the 24h Community Mental Health Center of Guarulhos and as a member of the Psychosocial Attention Network Leading Group (RAPS) of Guarulhos. Her work is based on empowering social networks with the participation of users of mental health services and their families, health professionals and community in general and developing inter-sectional public policies to improve the quality of life and protect the human rights, without discrimination.

He is Professorial Fellow, School of Public Health, Faculty of Health & Behavioural Sciences, University of Wollongong, Australia, and Clinical Associate Professor, Brain & Mind Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sydney, Australia.

He is Deputy Commissioner, New South Wales Mental Health Commission.

Alan Rosen is Research Psychiatrist, Centre for Rural & Remote Mental Health Services, University of Newcastle, & Visiting Consultant Psychiatrist, Greater Western Area Health Service, NSW.

He was Service Director and Director of Clinical Services (retired April 2009 after nearly 30 years of service) of Royal North Shore Hospital & Community Mental Health Services, Sydney. 

Between 1997 and 2010, he headed the Mental Health Department of the Ministry of Health, playing a major role designing national mental health policies in Chile. In this capacity, he spearheaded the integration of the treatment of common mental disorders into primary care, supported the development of a network of community services, contributed to downsizing mental hospital, and advised the government on a core package of services that must be provided to people with mental disorders.

With other Chilean researchers, he has conducted several quasi-experimental studies focused on the utilization of services by people with mental disorders and quality of care.

At present, he is leading a research about people with first episode of schizophrenia to correlate the level of quality of care and human rights with adherence to treatment.

Alberto Minoletti teaches post-graduate courses in community psychiatry and mental health, management of mental health services, human rights of people with mental disability, and community mental health interventions in primary care. He is professor at two international postgraduate programs: Master on “Mental Health Policy and Services” of the Nova University in Lisbon, Portugal, and Diploma on “Mental Health Law and Human Rights” of the Law College in Pune, India.

Also he is a Consultant for Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and World Health Organization (WHO) to several countries of Latin America.

He has written several papers and chapters describing and evaluating the Chilean experience in developing mental health services. 

Alfred Ngirababyeyi participates as a supervisor in decentralization of mental health services, with the aim of integration of mental health care into the primary health care in Rwanda. He contributed a lot in the training of health care providers at all levels in the general health system.

He also collaborated in the management of acute trauma during the period of commemoration of Genocide against Tutsi held in Rwanda in 1994. He collaborates with the mental health division at the Rwanda Biomedical Centre, in all the activities focusing on mental health policy, plans and programs.

At the Neuropsychiatric hospital, he initiated in December 2008, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, and ICAP Columbia, HIV services (PICT, Care and treatment) to the mentally ill. The results have shown the feasibility of integrating HIV care into Mental Health care.

Alfred Ngirababyeyi has also held several appointments at the national university of Rwanda medical school, as a visiting lecturer of Behavioral Science and Psychopharmacology, and as supervisor of students in clerkship.

He received his degree in General Medicine in the National University of Rwanda and Master in Mental Health Policy and Services from the University Nova of Lisboa.

He has extensive experience in the organization of mental health services, policy and plan development in low income countries and has been working in several African countires since 2005 with various organizations, including UN agencies, NGOs and bilateral cooperation.

He holds the International Diploma in mental Health Law and Human Rights and is presently undertaking the International Master on Mental Health Policy and Services at Universidade Nova de Lisboa.

Andrea is currently involved in the implementation of the Mental Health Gap Action Programme (mhGAP) in Ethiopia.

His professional activity integrates experiences from clinical practice, management of services, research and administration, with a particular view to the needs of the seriously mentally ill. In particular he has directed mental health departments integrating the disciplines of adult psychiatry, child psychiatry and addiction, carrying out extensive research on the issues of dual diagnosis, assertive outreach, mentally ill offenders, health in prisons and forensic hospitals.

He has been consultant for Italian Ministry of Health and regional councils, working in legislation and policy drafting, health services planning, monitoring and accreditation.

He is also member of the faculty of the International Master in “Mental Health Policy and Services” at the Universidade Nova of Lisbon and of the International Diploma in “Mental Health, Legislation and Human Rights” at Indian Law School, Pune (India).   

Armen Soghoyan was Board Member of WPA and Zonal Representative in Eastern Europe (2005-2011) and Board Member of Global Initiative on Psychiatry-Tbilisi (2005-2011).

He was the Head of Health and Social Affairs Department of Yerevan City Hall (2003-2009).

Currently he is the President of Armenian Psychiatric Association, Co-chair of WPA Committee on Finance, Editor in Chief of Armenian Journal of Mental Health, Associate Professor at Department of Psychiatry, YSMU after Mkhitar Heratsi and Head of Licensing Agency of Healthcare Ministry of Armenia.

He completed his undergraduate training in 1997 from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, and received fellowships in Psychiatry from Faculties of Psychiatry, National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria and West African College of Physicians in 2007.

Carmen Lara Muñoz is Member of the National Academy of Medicine and Member of the National Researchers System.

Her principal areas of interest are Psychosocial factors in chronic diseases (diabetes mellitus); Physical activity and Mental Health.

She is Codirector of the Latino Mental Health Research Training Program (with Dr. Steve Lopez from the University of Southern California) and co-PI of the project research Culture, Neuroscience and Psychosis (with the University of Southern California)

Denise Burnette holds an M.S.S.W. (University of Tennessee), a Ph.D. in Social Welfare (University of California, Berkeley) and certification in College and University Administration (Harvard University). As an International Scholar with the Open Society, she has served in Mongolia, Albania and currently, in Moldova. Denise Burnette has also held Senior Fulbright fellowships at Tata Institute of Social Sciences in Mumbai (2006-2007) and at the Centre for Research on HIV/ AIDS at the University of Botswana (2012-2013).

Denise Burnette’s scholarly interests are in the area of mental health and psychosocial well-being of older adults in the context of changing social structures in low-resource settings. Her current research is on help-seeking for dementia in India, cross-cultural measurement of social isolation among older adults in Mongolia and, in Botswana, a Multiple Family Group Psychoeducation intervention for grandmothers and co-resident adolescents affected by HIV/AIDS and a survey of HIV/AIDS-related knowledge, attitudes and practices of Batswana adults aged 50 and over.  

Diego de Leo is Past President of the International Association for Suicide Prevention and of the International Academy for Suicide Research.

Prof. De Leo has been the initiator of the World Suicide Prevention Day (2003). He is the Editor-in-Chief of the journal CRISIS. Winner of several international awards, in 2007 he was given the title of Doctor of Science for his work on Suicide and Psychogeriatrics, and recently the title of Officer of the Order of Australia.

His current research topics include definitional issues and data quality in suicide statistics, suicide in the mentally well, suicidal behavior across different cultures, and bereavement from suicide and other traumatic deaths.

Francisca Alvarenga works primarily with patients with a diagnosis of alcohol dependence and dependence of other drugs.

She served as Coordinator of the National Program for Mental Health, and participated in the preparation of the Strategic Plan for Mental Health in Cape Verde.

Francisca Alvarenga has the Master’s degree in Policy and Mental Health Services at the University of Medical Sciences, New University of Lisbon, with a Dissertation on the prevalence of alcohol consumption on 3 structures of Primary Health Care, Cape Verde, using the screening instrument OMS/ASSIST (2013).

She has a Post Graduate Degree in Systemic Behavioral and Cognitive Psychology at the University of Coimbra (2001), a Diploma of Specialized Higher Studies in Clinical Psychology and Pathology from the University René Descartes, Paris V (1991), and a Graduate Degree in Clinical Psychology and Pathology from the University of Rouen (1990).

Francisca Alvarenga speaks Portuguese, French, and English.

Jamila Ismayilova is employed at the National Mental Health Centre and also she is a Second-year student of the 3^rd International Master Program in Mental Health Policy and Services at the Universidade Nova de Lisboa.

Her professional interests include mental health policy research, mental health epidemiology, psychotherapy, and psychopharmacotherapy. She is highly motivated to contribute to mental health reform and developing modern, client-centred services in Azerbaijan as well as to cooperate with her colleagues from different countries on Global Mental Health.

Jamila speaks Azeri, Russian , English, and French. 

Jana Chihai finished Medical State University in Chisinau, Moldova in 1995 and received her specialization in Psychiatry. Jana Chihai worked in Psychiatric hospital and in residential institution about 6 years. In 2000 Jana Chihai started to develop the first community mental health center in Moldova and she was a director of this service 10 years. Now Jana Chihai is a director of Center for Children and Teenagers with severe mix disabilities. Till present her topic interest is policy, strategies and plans in Mental health area, organization of mental health system and community-based mental health services worldwide, especially in low-income country.

Between 1999 and 2013 Jana Chihai studied Psychotherapy, Socio- and Somato-analyse in Strasbourg, France, numerous courses in Public Health in Ascona, Lugano, Lausanne Switzerland, Berkeley California, USA, Lisboa, Portugal.

Jana Chihai is PhD in Public Health and since 2002 she has been working as associate professor in 2 universities.

Since 1999 she is president of NGO SOMATO and has managed and implemented about 40 projects, including 4 research projects. She is involved actively in Mental Health reform in Moldova for  about 8 years. 

For more than 15 years, Javier Vasquez has practiced international human rights law with particular emphasis on reproductive rights, the rights of indigenous peoples and disability rights, among others. Currently, he advises PAHO Member States, civil society, multilateral organizations, universities and international/regional treaty bodies (such as the IACHR) on human rights issues and strategies to promote and protect the right to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health and other related human rights and fundamental freedoms of persons in situation of vulnerability; and on the formulation/review of national laws, policies, programs, services and plans in a manner consistent with international and regional human rights instruments such as the American Convention on Human Rights, the case law of the IACHR and the jurisprudence of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights.

His current tasks also include formulating the annual PAHO/WHO strategic plans,  objectives and budget on human rights; designing relevant products, services and indicators; drafting inter-governmental resolutions and planning and conducting capacity building consultations and presentations for mainstreaming human rights in PAHO/WHO’s Secretariat and countries in relation to: women, LGBTI groups, persons deprived of liberty, young people, children, older persons, persons living with HIV, racial discrimination, gender identities and access to medicines/technologies (among others). Javier Vasquez has conducted official visits to 28 countries in North, Central, South America and the Caribbean and participated in the negotiations/formulation of several international/regional human rights treaties and standards.

Javier Vasquez is a national of Panama.

His research interest includes mental health services research, with emphasis on the successful integration of mental health into primary care, and the provision of services to vulnerable populations such as street children, young children, adolescents and prisoners. He is also interested in the quality of services and the rights of the mentally ill.

He is currently involved in piloting the implementation of the mhGAP in Nigeria, and is also a co-investigator (Nigeria) on EMERALD (Emerging Mental Health Systems in Low and Middle Income Countries). 

His areas of Interest are Clinical Psychologist, Forensics Psychology and Mental Health Service Organization.

During her medical studies she had clinical and academical experience abroad in the Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia, Università degli Studi di Siena, Italy and at the English Division of the Second Faculty of Medicine, Warszawski Uniwersytet Medyczny, Poland.

She is completing her Psychiatry training at Hospital de Magalhães Lemos, Porto, Portugal. She had training experience as well at the Assertive Outreach Community Treatment program for Homeless with Severe Mental Illness of Comunidad de Madrid, Hospital Clinico San Carlos and Hospital La Paz in Madrid, Spain.

Besides, she accomplished the Cognitive-Behaviour Therapy Post Graduation at the Advanced Institute of Health Sciences at Porto, Portugal and is currently attending the 3^rd International Master on Mental Health Policy and Services, New University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal.

She has been involved in different international collaborative efforts, being Chair of the Research and Co-chair of the Exchange group of the European Federation of Psychiatry Trainees (EFPT), part of the Early Career Psychiatrists Committee at the Task Force on Professional Development (ECPC-TFPD) of the European Psychiatric Association (EPA) and Trainer of the Portuguese Assoctiation of Medical Students (ANEM/PorMSIC) and IFMSA (International Federation of Medical Students Association).

She speaks fluently 5 languages: Portuguese, Spanish, English, French and Italian.

Visiting professor at Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos and Universidad Federico Villareal, attending psychiatrist at Instituto Peruano de Paternidad Responsible (a branch of IPPF), where she is also an advisor in the AMA  (Atención a la Mujer Ahora) project. Founding member of the Grupo Impulsor de la Reforma, and member of the steering committee (2008 to present), consultant for the Ombudsman’s Office, the Pan American Health Organization and Promsex, founder of the Peruvian Association for Women’s Mental Health, Chair, Section on Women’s Mental Health, World Psychiatric Association, 2005-2008.

Marta Rondon was the first woman to be elected President of the Peruvian Psychiatric Association, for the period 2005-2006 and also the first woman to be elected Deputy Dean, Peruvian College of Physicians (2008-2009). She was a member of the Organizing Committee of the International Association of Women’s Mental Health, 1999-2001. Subsequently, she has served as Secretary for the period 2008- 2011 and President Elect from 2011 to 2013. Currently she is starting her term as President of IAWMH. She has been the editor of Mujer y Salud Mental (1997 – 2000) and sits in the Editorial Board, Revista Peruana de NeuroPsiquiatría, and in the Advisory Committee of World Psychiatry (Spanish Edition).

Michail Lavdas has graduated from the Panteion University of Athens and is participating at the Master Degree in International Mental Health Policy and Services (MHPS) of the New University of Lisbon.

Currently, he works at the Association of Regional Development and Mental Health (EPAPSY) NGO in Greece as a psychologist.

He has contributed with more than 10 scientific papers and presentations in national and international congresses. 

Currently pursuing a master’s degree in mental health policies, services and programmes.

Since 1990, Momodou Gassama has served in various capacities: health information and documentation officer; health information assistant; health information and promotion officer and health promotion officer respectively. The main responsibilities in these areas include the coordination of health promotion, mental health, injury prevention and control, tobacco control and non-communicable diseases prevention and control in the WHO Country Office.

Momodou Gassama is a national of Gambia.

He graduated from Khyber Medical College, Peshawar, and received a fellowship in psychiatry from the College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan. He also holds a Master’s degree from the New University of Lisbon, Portugal, in Mental Health Policy and Services. His professional interests include public mental health and non-pharmacological interventions in psychiatry. He also serves as General Secretary of the Pakistan Association of Cognitive Therapists (PACT).

Muhammad Irfan has been the Managing Editor of the Journal of Postgraduate Medical Institute, Peshawar since 2009. His background in publishing comes from the Journal of Pakistan Psychiatric Society, which he joined in 2005 and continued to work until early 2014. He is an active member of the World Association of Medical Editors (WAME) and the Eastern Mediterranean Association of Medical Editor (EMAME), and is currently the executive member of the Pakistan Association of Medical Editors (PAME).

He is the founder member of the Institutional Review and Ethics Board, Postgraduate Medical Institute, Peshawar, and has regularly been involved in capacity building activities in the fields of research and publication ethics.

A former Lecturer in Psychiatry and Physiology at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, Olusola Ephraim-Oluwanuga  was United Nations National Stress Counselor, Nigeria.

A Life Fellow, West African College of Physicians, she obtained Bachelor of Science (Hons) Physiology (Lagos) 1984, Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (Ibadan) 1991 and Master of Science Physiology (Ibadan) 1997. She has participated in research in the area of Stigma, Gender-Based Violence, Old Age Psychiatry, Substance abuse and Pain. She is a Member, International Psychogeriatric Association, International Taskforce on Mental Health Economics and Society for the Study of Pain, Nigeria.

She received her Masters Degree in Mental Health Policies and Services under the guidance of Dr. Saraceno, former Director of the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse and has a strong focus on MH services and policy.

She has played a key role in the development of the Mozambique’s MISAU MH strategy which relies on task-shifting and focuses on primary care for mental health services provision. Importantly, Palmira Santos has coordinated a program with new, specialized mental health services for children and adolescents, which has been implemented in three major regions of Mozambique and will ultimately be available in all 10 provinces.

Palmira Santos is the coordinator of training programs for mental health at Ministry of Health. These training programs target all mental health professionals of the National Health Service from all over the country.

Her research seeks evidence about the main causes of lack of response to rehabilitation programs and she has coordinated the first national evaluation of mental health services, which includes an analysis of all health facilities with mental health services in all ten provinces of Mozambique including more than 50 districts. 

Since the late 70’s, he is engaged in the social movement to promote psychiatric reform and to support the rights of patients and families. On this topic, he wrote a book, “The Reasons of Tutorship: Psychiatric reform and the rights of the mentally ill” (1992), that has influenced the debate concerning the need for change in the mental health legislation in Brazil, engaging himself in the efforts of many people and social groups that made possible the approval of the Brazilian mental health law, in 2001.

He has participated in the creation of the first mental health community centers (CAPS) in Rio de Janeiro, a kind of community service that became, from the years 2001-2003 until now, the key strategic service in the Brazilian Psychiatric Reform. He was regional coordinator of mental health in the state of Rio de Janeiro (1999-2000) and head of the national programme of mental health of Ministry of Health in Brazil, from 2000 to 2010. Delgado is  professor of mental health and psychiatry, at School of Medicine and Institute of Psychiatry of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro.  From 2012, he is Regional Vice President of World Association for Psychosocial Rehabilitation (WAPR). He is author of many articles on the topics of Mental Health Policy, Planning and Organization of Mental Health Services, Support for Families of Mental Health Service Users and Mental Health & Human Rights. He lives in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, is married and has a daughter. 

Together with his organisation, BasicNeeds-Ghana, a leading global mental health and development organisation, Peter has dedicated his work efforts to improving the situation of women and men, girls and boys with mental disorders.

He has worked to promote community mental health and increasing access to community based mental health services integrated into general health care by implementation of the mental health and development model of BasicNeeds, ensuring means to a secure livelihoods for stabilised people with mental disorders and their carer-givers, and influencing public officials and institution to be attentive to mental health issues and responsive to voice of poor and vulnerable people with mental disorders in Ghana.

He was and continues to be active in advocacy and activities relating to the new Mental Health law of Ghana, scaling up of community mental health services, strengthening capacity of service users and carer support groups and general human rights issues.

Peter is a fellowship awardee of the Gulbenkian Foundation, which enabled him pursue the International Masters for Mental Health Policy and Service (IMMHPS) course at the Faculty of Medical Sciences (Faculdade de Ciências Médicas) of the New University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal. He is a dynamic individual who works well with others in multidisciplinary, multicultural, and multi-religious contexts. 

He is currently preparing a Master in International Mental Health Policy and Services at Lisbon NOVA University in collaboration with WHO.

In the last 6 years, Rabih El Chammay has been working closely with WHO as a consultant on international, regional and local levels developing mhGAP-IG related training materials and delivering trainings.

As a Mental Health Advisor for International Medical Corps for the Iraqi refugees programme in Lebanon for more then 5 years, Rabih El Chammay has overseen the programme design keeping it inline with the international guidelines, teams training and supervision as well as monitoring of the services provision. He's currently active in refugees mental health and integration of mental health into primary care in the MENA region on different levels starting at direct service provision to policy level.

Psychologist, PhD in Psychology from the University of Granada, Spain, Master in Community Care of Persons with Mental Disorders from the University of Granada. Also studies in Public Health at the University of Chile and a Post-Doctoral in the Department of Mental Health Sciences at the University College London (UCL).

She teaches undergraduate programs in the School of Medicine and Doctoral Programs in Chile and the Universidad Nacional de Lanús, Argentina, on topics of mental health services, epidemiology, and mental health in primary care. She has published on these topics and is Executive Secretary of MARISTAN Network.

He has nearly 30 years of experience working in the mental health field as a researcher, educator, clinician, and advocate.

He has led a strong applied research program that focuses on cross-cultural comparative epidemiologic research on patterns and correlates of mental disorders, substance abuse and health conditions; the identification of unmet health and mental needs and associated risk and protective factors in underserved populations; community-engaged approaches to reducing health disparities in underserved populations; and quality of care improvement through the provision of culturally and linguistically appropriate services.

Sergio Aguilar-Gaxiola’s most recent work is focused on translating and bridging research with services delivery and policy development.

He has been appointed to numerous policy and research advisory boards, at the local, state, national and international levels, including a four year appointment to the National Advisory Mental Health Council of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) and is currently a member of the Executive Committee and the Coordinator for Latin America and the Caribbean of the World Health Organization (WHO) World Mental Health Surveys Consortium.

He is Adjunct Professor, Centre for Disability & Policy, School of Law, National University of Ireland, Galaway. Dr Pathare also works as a Consultant Psychiatrist at Ruby Hall Clinic, Pune.

Soumitra Pathare trained at Seth GS Medical College & KEM Hospital, Mumbai and Guy's and Guy's & St Thomas' Hospital, London UK. He is a Member of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, UK. Dr Pathare has worked as Consultant to the World Health Organization and expert advisor to many countries in drafting mental health policies and legislation.

Soumitra Pathare is currently assisting the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India in drafting new mental health legislation. He is also a member of the Policy Group appointed by the Ministry to frame a National Mental Health Policy and Plan.

He currently holds the Sun Life Financial Chair in Adolescent Mental Health where he applies knowledge translation techniques to advance adolescent mental health promotion, education, research and training locally, nationally and internationally. He currently directs the World Health Organization Collaborating Center in Mental Health at Dalhousie and recently ran as the federal Liberal candidate for Halifax.

He has served as Department Head of Psychiatry and Associate Dean for International Health at Dalhousie University. He is a Distinguished Fellow of the Canadian Psychiatric Association and a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences. 

Stan Kutcher has received numerous awards and honors locally, nationally and internationally for his work including: a Best Doctor in Canada; Doctors Nova Scotia Health Promotion Award; Dr. John Savage Memorial Award for outstanding humanitarian contributions to global health; Canadian College of Neuropsychopharmacolgy Gold Medal; Lifetime Achievement Award of the Canadian Psychiatric Research Foundation. He has been honored by the Canadian Psychiatric Association with the JM Cleghorn Award for his contribution to mental health research and the Paul Patterson Award for his innovations in psychiatric education.

He is and has been a member of numerous boards and national organizations including the Institute of Neuroscience, Mental Health and Addictions of the CIHR; Interhealth Canada; Mental Health Commission of Canada (CYAC committee); the Canadian Society for International Health; the Canadian Coalition for Global Health Research, the Sandbox Project. He is the author of more than 200 scientific papers and the author/co-author of numerous medical textbooks.

Locally he contributes to the work of Laing House, Immigrant Services and Integration Services and the Boys and Girls Clubs. One of his recent projects was leading the development of a national child and youth mental health framework for Canada: Evergreen. Currently his focus is on knowledge translation pertaining to improving youth mental health and mental health care in schools and primary care.