Global Mental Health: Trauma and Recovery
- Continuing Education
Develop expertise in trauma-informed global mental health care through a four-day certificate program that combines evidence-based training, neuroscience, psychosocial interventions, and culturally responsive recovery practices for traumatized individuals and communities worldwide.
- Live Online
This course is taught online in real time.
Additionally, all sessions will be recorded and made available to participants for on-demand online viewing for 30 days after the end of the course.
This is the standard price, for a full list of profession pricing see below.
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Earn up to:
22.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s) ™
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Four Days
Please view the Schedule for a full description of the program.
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Overview
The Global Mental Health: Trauma and Recovery Certificate Training Program (GMH) is now in its 20th year. The program was launched in November 2006 in response to a call to build global mental health training capacity issued by the world’s Ministers of Health (n = 38) at a meeting in Rome in December 2004.
The primary objective of the GMH Program is to provide state-of-the-art, culturally responsive, and evidence-based knowledge and skills to health and mental health professionals, humanitarian relief workers, and policy planners who care for traumatized individuals, families, and communities worldwide. The curriculum integrates advances in neuroscience, psychosocial interventions, and community-based approaches to healing and recovery.
A central focus of the course is the translation of trauma-informed care into practice, including an in-depth examination of the neuroscience of trauma and the leadership development of course participants. Participants receive access to an online version of the textbook Global Mental Health: Trauma and Recovery: A Companion Guide for Field and Clinical Care of Traumatized People Worldwide.
Highlighted topics include the care of survivors of mass violence and torture, gender-based violence, the war in Ukraine, and self-care for health care workers. The program combines expert-led lectures with interactive question-and-answer sessions, fostering a meaningful exchange of knowledge and experience between faculty and participants.
This four-day, livestream certificate program is delivered through a lecture and discussion format. Participants also engage in facilitated breakout sessions, creating opportunities for peer connection, collaboration, and networking with faculty.
Learning Objectives
- Integrate scientific, cultural, and evidence-based knowledge into policy planning, clinical care, humanitarian response, and human rights–oriented practice with displaced and trauma-affected populations.
- Apply advances in neuroscience and culturally responsive frameworks to the clinical and community-based care of traumatized individuals, families, and communities impacted by displacement.
- Identify and evaluate evidence-informed approaches for the care of survivors of extreme violence, and trauma resulting from prolonged adversity and instability.
- Integrate evidence-based, culturally responsive approaches into the mental health care of individuals and communities impacted by displacement and trauma.
- Apply advances in neuroscience and trauma-informed practice to clinical, humanitarian, and policy-oriented settings.
- Analyze the important historical scientific and evaluation approaches to the care of survivors of trauma.
- Understand the impact of trauma on the bio-psycho-social and spiritual state of survivors of trauma.
- Apply professional development and ethics in working with vulnerable populations.
Developed and Offered By:
Continuing Education courses are developed by faculty from Harvard Medical School's teaching hospitals and accredited by Harvard Medical School. This course is offered by Massachusetts General Hopsital.
Who Should Participate
Primary Care Physicians, Nurses, Nurse Practitioners, and Physician Assistants
Schedule
All agenda sessions are in Eastern Time.
Tuesday, September 29, 2026
Course Orientation
9:00-9:30 am
Global Mental Health Overview
9:30-11:00 am
Break
11:00-11:15 am
Human Rights, Dignity, and Trauma
11:15 am-12:15 pm
Global Mental Health Action Plan
12:15-1:15 pm
Lunch
1:15-2:15 pm
Global Mental Health Action Plan: Case Study Africa
2:15-3:15 pm
Leadership in Healthcare
3:15-4:15 pm
Break
4:15-4:30 pm
Empathy: Franco Paparo Memorial Lecture
4:30-5:30 pm
Q&A
5:30-6:00 pm
Wednesday, September 30, 2026
Neuroscience 1
9:00-10:00 am
Neuroscience 2
10:00-11:00 am
Break
11:00-11:15 am
Neuroscience 3
11:15 am-12:15 pm
Trauma Informed Care
12:15-1:15 pm
Lunch
1:15-2:15 pm
Women's Health
2:15-3:15 pm
TBD
3:15-4:15 pm
Break
4:15-4:30 pm
Education: Trauma and Mental Health
4:30-5:30 pm
Q&A
5:30-6:00 pm
Thursday, October 1, 2026
Clinical Toolkit
9:00-10:00 am
Trauma and the Arts
10:00-11:00 am
Break
11:00-11:15 am
Expressive Arts
11:15 am-12:15 pm
Leadership
12:15-1:15 pm
Lunch
1:15-2:15 pm
Nature and Well-Being
2:15-3:15 pm
War Trauma and Children
3:15-4:15 pm
Break
4:15-4:30 pm
Meditation & Reflection
4:30-5:30 pm
Q&A
5:30-6:00 pm
Faculty
Harvard Medical School Continuing Education offers faculty who are international experts and leading educators in their fields. As a student in this course, you’ll have access to outstanding course directors and faculty.
Course Directors
Richard Mollica
Course Director
Eugene F. Augusterfer
Course Director
Maria Leister
JD, MSc Bioethics
- Director of Education and Bioethics, Harvard Program in Refugee Trauma
Sofia Matta
MD
- Medical Director, Harvard Program in Refugee Trauma
- Senior Director Medical Services, Home Base
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Course Fees
Registration Details
You may register through our secure online environment and will receive an email confirmation upon receipt of your payment.
Prices include CME credit, electronic syllabus, some recordings for up to 30 days after course has ended, and refreshments at breaks and breakfast.
At the end of the registration process, a $10 non-refundable processing fee will be added to your registration.
Accreditation
The Harvard Medical School designates this Live Virtual for a maximum of 22.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
For the purpose of recertification, the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board and American Nurses Credentialing Center accept AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ issued by organizations accredited by the ACCME (Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education). We would also suggest that learners check with their state licensing board to ensure they accept reciprocity with AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ for re-licensure.
The National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) states that AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ are acceptable for continuing medical education requirements for recertification. We would also suggest that learners check with their state licensing board to ensure they accept reciprocity with AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ for re-licensure.
The American Medical Association (AMA) has an agreement of mutual recognition of continuing medical education (CME) credit with the European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS). Additional information regarding this agreement may be found on the Union of European Medical Specialists website.
The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada recognizes conferences and workshops held outside of Canada that are developed by a university, academy, hospital, specialty society or college as accredited group learning activities.