GLOBAL MENTAL HEALTH: Trauma and Recovery Certificate Program 2025
September 23rd – 25th , 2025
The Harvard Program in Refugee Trauma (HPRT) and the Harvard Medical School are offering an extraordinary 3‑day online certificate program, Global Mental Health: Trauma and Recovery (GMH). The program provides training for health care practitioners, humanitarian relief workers and policy planners addressing the health and mental health sequelae of traumatized patients and communities. The curriculum is adaptable for diverse populations and global environments affected by violence, natural disasters, and climate change.
The Global Mental Health: Trauma and Recovery Certificate Program is the first of its kind in global mental health, trauma, and post-conflict/disaster recovery. The major rationale for this Certificate Program emerged from 40+ years of clinical care, training, and research by the faculty with survivors of violence and natural disasters throughout the world.
In collaboration with Caritas Rome, Fulbright New Century Scholars Program and the World Bank, HPRT and the Italian Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS) developed the global Project 1 Billion: International Congress of Ministers of Health for Mental Health and Post-Conflict Recovery. In December 2004, this project brought together Ministers of Health from the world’s post-conflict countries to endorse a science-based, culturally effective and sustainable Mental Health Action Plan and Book of Best Practices for post-conflict recovery. Project 1 Billion revealed the great need for the education and capacity building of health care professionals, international relief workers and policy makers in the area of mental health. This Global Mental Health: Trauma and Recovery Certificate Program is a major result of Project 1 Billion.
Upon successful completion of the GMH program, participants receive a certificate of completion from the Harvard Program in Refugee Trauma and a certificate of participation with continuing medical education credits from Harvard Medical School.
Mission and Learning Objectives
More than one billion people have been affected by violence and disasters throughout the world. Our mission is to maximize a scientific and cultural approach and methodology to reduce suffering, minimize disabilities, and increase resiliency for survivors of violence worldwide. This Program offers a transformative training experience to create a network of global leaders in mental health recovery.
Upon completion of the certificate program, participants will be able to:
- Integrate science, culture, and evidence-based knowledge and practices in policy planning, clinical care, humanitarian, and human rights activities.
- Implement and use advances in the neurosciences and cultural knowledge of the clinical care of traumatized persons, their families, and communities.
- Define effective scientific approaches for the care of survivors of extreme violence and climate change.
- Analyze the important historical scientific and evaluation approaches to the care of survivors of trauma.
- Apply professional development and ethics in working with vulnerable populations.
- Understand the impact of trauma on the bio-psycho-social and spiritual state of survivors of trauma.
- Learn methods for self-care.
Learning Approach
The program participants will receive an e-copy of the textbook Global Mental Health: Trauma and Recovery: A Companion Guide for Field and Clinical Care of Traumatized People Worldwide. Lectures to be presented by globally recognized leaders in their respective fields and will follow the eight dimensions of the Global Mental Health Action Plan. Participants will also receive the HPRT 11 Point Clinical Toolkit for Healing Wounds of Mass Violence and Disasters.
Topics
The program’s emphasis is on learning an integrated holistic approach to policy planning and clinical care using the HPRT Global Mental Health Action Plan.
Topics include:
- Phenomenological theory of trauma and recovery developed by HPRT and international colleagues over 40 years.
- Epidemiology and the neuroscience of trauma.
- The HPRT Global Mental Health Action Plan.
- Trauma-informed Care.
- Mental Health Diagnosis and Treatment of Mental Health and Medical Disorders.
- Scientific (Evidence-Based) and Culturally Valid Best Clinical Practices.
- The new H5 Model for field based psychosocial and clinical approach to recovery.
- Health and mental health impact of health disparities.
- Human Rights and Rebuilding Social Capital.
- Working in Interdisciplinary Medical Teams.
- Scientific and culture-based approach to leadership.
- Climate change and ecocide.
- The importance of Self-care.
Dr. Sarah Jenkins – Psychiatrist, USA –
“This course gave me practical trauma-informed care tools I applied immediately with refugee patients. The Google Drive access made it easy to review complex PTSD protocols during clinic breaks.”
Dr. Michael Osei – Psychologist, –
“Harvard-level training finally accessible to clinicians in West Africa. The modules on collective trauma and community recovery were transformative for my practice.”
Dr. Elena Vasquez – Clinical Social Worker, Spain –
“I finally understand how to integrate cultural context into trauma therapy. The downloadable format meant I could share key resources with my entire team.”
Dr. Amanda Chen – Child Psychiatrist, Canada –
“Pediatric trauma protocols are finally demystified. I’ve already implemented new screening tools for adverse childhood experiences in my clinic.”
Dr. David Kim – Family Physician, South Korea –
“As a primary care doctor, I needed simple, effective tools for identifying trauma. This course delivered. Clear, evidence-based, and immediately useful.”
Dr. Fatima Al-Mansouri – Psychiatrist, UAE –
“The session on intergenerational trauma and displacement was deeply moving and academically rigorous. Harvard faculty at their absolute best.”
Dr. James Carter – Clinical Psychologist, Australia –
“I’ve taken many trauma courses. This one stands alone. The neuroscience behind memory reconsolidation and recovery was explained with exceptional clarity.”
Dr. Lucia Ramirez – Mental Health Counselor, Colombia –
“Working with survivors of political violence, this course gave me renewed hope and better strategies. The Google Drive format means I revisit it constantly.”
Dr. Robert Hayes – Military Psychiatrist, USA –
“Combat-related PTSD treatment has evolved, and this course brought me completely current. The downloadable videos let me train my entire clinic team.”
Dr. Nadia Petrova – Psychologist, Ukraine –
“In a country experiencing active war, this course was a lifeline. The acute trauma and resilience-building strategies have directly impacted how we support civilians.”
Dr. Carlos Mendez – Psychiatrist, Mexico –
“Complex trauma and dissociative disorders have always been challenging for me. This course provided clear diagnostic and treatment roadmaps I use weekly.”
Dr. Grace Wang – Neuropsychologist, Singapore –
“The intersection of trauma, memory, and neurobiology was brilliantly taught. I’ve recommended this to every colleague in my department.”
Dr. Lisa Thompson – Family Therapist, New Zealand –
“The family systems approach to intergenerational trauma transformed how I work with Māori and Pasifika communities. Deeply grateful.”
Dr. Ahmed Hassan – Psychiatrist, Egypt –
“Finally, a global mental health course that respects non-Western healing traditions while maintaining scientific rigor. Exceptional.”
Dr. Anders Lindgren – Psychiatrist, Sweden –
“Ethical challenges in humanitarian mental health settings were addressed with honesty and practical wisdom. A rare and valuable focus.”
Dr. Maria Santos – Pediatrician, Brazil –
“Identifying and supporting traumatized children in under-resourced settings is now something I do with confidence. Thank you for this gift.”
Dr. Yuki Tanaka – Psychiatrist, Japan –
“Post-disaster mental health care after earthquakes and natural disasters is my focus. The faculty expertise was world-class and immediately applicable.”
Dr. Amara Diallo – Psychologist, Senegal –
“Humanitarian settings require creative, low-resource interventions. This course delivered practical tools I can use tomorrow with zero budget.”
Dr. Benjamin Foster – Forensic Psychiatrist, UK –
“Trauma in incarcerated populations is often ignored. This course gave me evidence-based arguments and treatment strategies to advocate for better care.”
Dr. Camila Rodriguez – OB-GYN, Argentina –
“Birth trauma and reproductive mental health are finally getting attention. This course validated my patients’ experiences and gave me tools to help.”
Dr. Hassan Ali – Emergency Physician, Lebanon –
“In the ER, we see trauma’s immediate aftermath daily. Psychological first aid training from Harvard’s finest has changed how I stabilize both body and mind.”
Dr. Olivia Bennett – School Psychologist, Australia –
“Childhood trauma in educational settings requires informed, compassionate responses. This course equipped me to train teachers and support students better.”
Dr. Dimitri Papadopoulos – Psychiatrist, Greece –
“Working with unaccompanied refugee minors is heartbreaking and complex. This course provided both clinical strategies and emotional sustenance.”
Dr. Sofia Johansson – Clinical Psychologist, Norway –
“The research updates on EMDR, CBT-PTSD, and emerging therapies were comprehensive and unbiased. I now make better referrals and treatment choices.”
Dr. Chidi Nwosu – Psychiatrist, Nigeria –
“Terrorism and insurgency trauma in the Lake Chad region requires culturally adapted care. This course gave me frameworks to build locally relevant solutions.”