Global Health Innovation Collaborative
The mission of the Global Health Innovation Collaborative is to foster global collaboration, dedicating our efforts to the development and implementation of innovative solutions that address the world’s most pressing physical and mental health challenges. We strive to unify experts, organizations, and communities to create sustainable, accessible, and impactful health advancements for all, regardless of geography or socioeconomic status.
About Us
Benjamin Lough
Dr. Lough’s research examines how civil society organizations, volunteering, and social innovation contribute to health and social development globally. He has served as a senior researcher with the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) program at UNDP and as principal investigator for international projects with US Aid for International Development (USAID) and other partners. Dr. Lough’s recent work includes leading global mental health policy consultations across 40+ countries, generating evidence to strengthen mental health systems in low-resource and crisis-affected settings. His scholarship focuses on advancing community well-being through cross-sector collaboration.
Tara Powell
Dr. Powell’s research focuses on the development, implementation and evaluation of behavioral health interventions for trauma affected individuals and communities across the globe. Drawing from her experience living in and working with disaster-affected communities, Dr. Powell has actively collaborated with local communities and global humanitarian organizations to establish policies and increase access to mental health interventions for individuals, families, and communities affected by collective traumas. She has led projects funded by the National Institute of Mental Health, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, USAID, and humanitarian organizations such as Save the Children and Americares. Her experience spans a range of contexts, from communities impacted by conflicts like the War in Ukraine to those who have experienced pandemics and climate-induced disasters such as hurricanes, earthquakes, and tornadoes.
Moses Okumu
Dr. Okumu’s research focuses on the development, implementation, and evaluation of interventions in marginalized communities. He is particularly interested in examining the efficacy of digital and technology-based interventions for improving the sexual and mental health outcomes of vulnerable black youth. Much of Dr. Okumu’s research on the development and delivery of digital health interventions is centered there and in sub-Saharan African communities. Focusing on community-based strategies and strengths, Dr. Okumu’s work advocates for the increasing infrastructure of existing support systems and equipping community members with the resources necessary to provide services to local youth. Dr. Okumu is also interested in gender-transformative approaches and strength-based interventions related to men’s sexual and mental health.
Flora Cohen
Dr. Cohen’s research aims to investigate culturally congruent mental health interventions in low-resource settings. She utilizes participatory designs to engage service users in the development, implementation, and evaluation of interventions. Dr. Cohen is particularly interested in global mental health, especially interventions with displaced populations. Currently, Dr. Cohen is directing a mental health program for refugees living in Indonesia, alongside other global collaborations. She is also a practicing licensed clinician.
Flávia Andrade
Dr. Andrade’s research focuses on aging, health inequalities, and global social determinants of health. She leads projects with the World Health Organization and international collaborators to examine unmet care needs, living arrangements, and mortality among older adults in Latin America and beyond. Her work highlights how social, cultural, and demographic factors shape health outcomes in low-resource and crisis-affected settings. Dr. Andrade’s research advances policy-relevant knowledge to strengthen health systems and promote equity in global aging populations.
Research Areas
Global Mental Health
Project Faculty
Dr. Benjamin Lough – Professor
Dr. Tara Powell – Associate Professor
Dr. Moses Okumu – Assistant Professor
Dr. Flora Cohen – Assistant Professor
Strengthening Global Mental Health Policy and Practice
Several faculty members at the University of Illinois School of Social Work are contributing to a growing global movement to elevate mental health as a core concern in development and humanitarian work. Supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), this project convened stakeholders across more than 40 countries to better understand mental health needs in low-resource and crisis-affected settings—and to chart a path forward.
Through international consultations and evidence reviews, the project generated timely insights and actionable guidance for governments, funders, and nonprofit organizations working to expand access to quality, culturally responsive mental health care.
The Importance of Mental Health in Global Development
Mental health affects every aspect of life, yet it remains one of the most neglected areas in global development. This project helps bridge that gap by offering clear, practical strategies for integrating mental health into existing systems of care. Grounded in the experiences of people on the front lines, including youth, community providers, and individuals with lived experience, this research supports a shift toward policies and programs that are effective, equitable, inclusive, and locally informed.
To learn how this initiative originated and its broader contributions to global mental health, see Tackling Global Mental Health with USAID Partnership, which describes the collaboration and highlights its role in the “Mental Health Is Health” event hosted by USAID, which featured U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, positioning mental health as a core pillar of U.S. foreign assistance.
Note: In early 2025, the dismantling of USAID led to a sharp contraction of U.S. global health initiatives, including dedicated support for global mental health. While the agency no longer funds this area, the tools and guidance developed through this project continue to serve as vital resources for global actors working to address mental health in low-resource and crisis-affected settings. [See for e.g.: Galea JT, Aldhalimi A, Burrows KO, et al. “USAID’s mental health work can and must live on.” The Lancet Psychiatry. 2025;12(8):e13–e14. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(25)00198-1]
Trauma Focused Interventions
Project Faculty
Dr. Tara Powell – Associate Professor
Dr. Flora Cohen – Assistant Professor
Trauma-focused approaches are advancing mental health care for individuals and communities affected by crisis, violence, and displacement. This research area investigates evidence-based interventions that address the psychological and social impacts of trauma. Faculty lead projects that adapt and evaluate these interventions in partnership with local communities to ensure they are culturally relevant, developmentally appropriate, and sustainable in low-resource and crisis-affected settings. Research explores the implementation and efficacy of programs for children impacted by hurricanes and flooding, resilience-building interventions for educators in conflict-affected regions, and community-based models that support recovery after climate-related disasters in countries such as Ukraine, Indonesia, Jordan, Nepal, and the U.S. By integrating rigorous science with community engagement, this work advances models of care to reduce disparities, expand access, and enhance well-being worldwide.
Digital Interventions
Project Faculty
Dr. Moses Okumu – Assistant Professor
Digital technologies are rapidly transforming how health services are delivered. This research area explores how digital tools—such as mobile health apps, virtual reality platforms, AI chatbots, and digital literacy training—can expand access to mental and sexual health care among displaced and marginalized populations–with a focus on low-resource and crisis-affected settings. Faculty lead projects that co-design and evaluate these interventions with communities, ensuring they are culturally relevant, user-friendly, and ethically grounded. Current studies include mobile health–supported trials with refugee youth in Uganda, digital determinants of sexual health, and innovations in eHealth literacy. By bridging technology and equity, this work advances new models of care that address health disparities and support the resilience of vulnerable groups worldwide.
Global Health Inequalities and Aging
Project Faculty
Dr. Flavia Andrade – Professor
Aging populations face rising health challenges worldwide, with the greatest disparities in low- and middle-income countries, where health and social care systems are under strain. This research area examines how social, cultural, and economic inequalities shape the health and well-being of older adults across diverse global contexts. Faculty explore topics such as multimorbidity, cognitive aging, unmet care needs, and the role of family and community support in later life. Through international collaborations and partnerships with organizations like the World Health Organization (WHO), this work generates evidence to inform policies and strengthen systems that promote equity, dignity, and healthy aging around the world.
Publications
Key Publications
Insights for Global Mental Health Policy and Programming. Synthesizes perspectives from more than 200 global stakeholders. The report identifies major challenges, such as stigma, lack of funding, and workforce shortages, and outlines principles to guide ethical, community-based mental health approaches.
Lough, B. J., Okumu, M., & Powell, T. M. (2023). Global Mental Health Consultations: Insights for Policy and Programming (Report PA‑021‑DW6). Research Technical Assistance Center. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.12320.80640
Global Mental Health Consultations: Policy and Programming Recommendations. Provides practical guidance for organizations looking to invest in or expand mental health programming. Topics include integrating mental health into primary care, training non-specialist providers, and supporting traditional and community-based care systems.
Lough, B. J., Okumu, M., & Powell, T. M. (2023). Global Mental Health Consultations: Policy and Programming Recommendations (Report PA‑021‑DW7). USAID Research Technical Assistance Center. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.27420.30080/1
Global Mental Health Evidence Briefs
The Global Mental Health Evidence Briefs mark USAID’s contributions to a growing global conversation. They are a collection of thematic briefs summarizing what works, and what is needed to effectively advance global mental health, in areas like trauma-informed care, youth mental health, task-shifting, and mental health in emergencies. Each brief is designed for use by policymakers, funders, and practitioners.
Terms and Approaches to Address Mental Health
This evidence brief summarizes the varied terminology, interventions, and challenges in global mental health—especially in low- and middle-income countries—and calls for coordinated, culturally responsive strategies to improve mental health systems and care.
Conceptualization of Mental Health
This brief highlights the need for culturally grounded understandings of mental health, showing that locally adapted interventions rooted in diverse beliefs and practices are often more effective than Western models, and recommends greater research, collaboration, and provider training to support inclusive care.
Ethical Principles of Mental Health Policies and Practices
This brief examines ethical challenges in global mental health delivery, urging a shift beyond “do no harm” toward justice and inclusion through culturally competent practice, local collaboration, and strengthened ethical frameworks.
Ethical Principles Across Professions
This brief explores how diverse professional disciplines approach ethics in mental health, emphasizing shared core principles and the need for cross-disciplinary understanding to promote equitable, culturally responsive care.
Mental Health Treatment Approaches
This brief outlines common mental health treatment approaches—psychotherapeutic, pharmacological, and integrative—emphasizing the importance of culturally and contextually tailored, evidence-informed care to improve access and outcomes.
Mental Health Stigma and Discrimination
This brief explores the pervasive impact of stigma on global mental health, highlighting its various forms and harmful effects, and calls for multi-level interventions to reduce stigma through education, policy change, and inclusive practices.
Mental Health Terminology
This brief examines the powerful role of language in mental health, advocating for person-centered, inclusive terminology that respects cultural contexts and lived experiences to support ethical communication, policy, and care.
Contextualization of Mental Health Interventions
This brief underscores the importance of contextually grounded mental health interventions, advocating for community-driven, culturally relevant approaches that address power imbalances and promote ethical, sustainable care.
Proposed Theory of Change for Mental Health
This brief outlines a multi-level theory of change for advancing global mental health, emphasizing dignity, equity, and collaboration to guide aligned policy, investment, and implementation strategies that drive sustainable impact.
Trauma-Informed Approaches
This brief highlights trauma-informed approaches as essential to mental health and psychosocial support, advocating for cross-sector, culturally responsive practices that promote healing, resilience, and systemic change.
Mental Health Research in Humanitarian and Development Settings
This brief highlights the importance of conducting ethical, locally grounded mental health research in crisis-affected and low-resource settings, while highlighting key gaps.
Partners
The Collaborative works with a wide network of global and local partners to advance health equity in low-resource and crisis-affected settings. Current and past partners include the World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Development Program (UNDP), U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and Pan American Health Organization, along with universities and research centers across Africa, Latin America, and Asia. Faculty collaborate directly with ministries of health, diverse community-based organizations and refugee-serving agencies to co-develop and implement interventions. These partnerships ensure that research is grounded in local realities while contributing to global policy and practice.
Labs
Disaster Intervention Research Lab
The Disaster Intervention Research Lab is committed to understanding the psychological impact of traumatic events, and to creating evidence-based, accessible, and effective strategies that promote resilience, recovery, and mental well-being.
