Mental Health Leadership: Transformation Through Innovation
Program Overview
Date: December 7–10, 2026
Modality: Live Online
Lead Change in Mental Healthcare at Harvard
The importance of reducing the mental healthcare gap has never been more critical. The current reality of limited financial resources, stigma associated with mental health problems, and too few professionals to support the vast mental health needs of the population means that professionals and organizations have an obligation to innovate mental healthcare delivery.
Mental Health Leadership: Transformation Through Innovation is based on decades of real-world experiences of the lead Harvard faculty and encompasses a range of themes related to the core mission of scaling-up mental healthcare and realizing mental health progress. This interactive executive education course will introduce the reasons for the current state, key innovations which can transform mental healthcare and discuss how these might be scaled up both globally and in the United States.
Join us as expert Harvard faculty cover the most pressing topics healthcare professionals are facing today, including: the social determinants of mental health problems; a life course approach to addressing mental health problems; mental health in the workplace and in humanitarian settings; innovative models of mental healthcare delivery; the application of digital technologies in mental healthcare; a rights-based approach to mental healthcare; and more. Ultimately, participants will learn the value of redesigning the architecture of care, resource investments and accountability to benefit your system.
Program Details
This course uses a range of teaching methods, including case studies, short lectures, and small group discussions. After attending the course, the participants will be able to:
- Implement a plan for transforming mental healthcare systems
- Analyze the strengths and weaknesses of the mental healthcare systems that they are familiar with
- Contribute knowledgeably and effectively in developing transformative policies and programs for mental healthcare
- To understand the state of mental health problems globally and in the US
- To develop insights into the reasons for limited progress in mental health
- To understand the key principles of transforming mental healthcare in a variety of settings
- To understand the key policy actions needed to transform mental health globally
- Dynamic and interactive sessions led by expert Harvard faculty
- Foster personal and organizational growth through small group discussions with like-minded peers
- Become aware of the latest developments in evidence-based programs across the world
- Advance your executive and leadership skills in strengthening mental healthcare services
From Our Alumni
There is no prouder moment than receiving this certification from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health Executive and Continuing Education. This is a milestone in my new path in aiding innovative solutions and transforming the mental health system.”
—Ghazwa Al Sawaf, Mental Health & Behavioural Coach
Program Logistics
All Times are Eastern Time (ET).
| Monday, December 7, 2026 | ||
|---|---|---|
| 8:30–9:00 am | Welcome and Classroom Technology Orientation | |
| 9:00–11:00 am | The Need for Transforming Mental Health | |
| 11:00–11:15 am | Break | |
| 11:15 am–1:15 pm | Addressing the Social Determinants of Mental Health Problems | Tuesday, December 8, 2026 |
| 9:00–11:00 am | Person Centered Care and Care by Non-Specialists | |
| 11:00–11:15 am | Break | |
| 11:15 am–1:15 pm | A Rights Based Care Approach, Including the Role of People with Lived Experience | Wednesday, December 9, 2026 |
| 9:00–11:00 am | Acting Early: Child and Youth Mental Health | |
| 11:00–11:15 am | Break | |
| 11:15 am–1:15 pm | Care in Humanitarian Contexts | Thursday, December 10, 2026 |
| 9:00 am–1:00 pm | Digital Technology for Mental Health Care | |
| 11:00–11:15 am | Break | |
| 11:15 am–1:15 pm | Policy Actions to Transform Mental Health |
This agenda is subject to change.
Current faculty, subject to change
John A. Naslund
Instructor
Global Health and Social Medicine
Harvard Medical School
Vikram Patel
Professor, Department of Global Health and Population
Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Co-Founder and Member of Managing Committee
Sangath
Paul Farmer Professor and Chair, Department of Global Health and Social Medicine
Harvard Medical School
Giuseppe Raviola
Director of the Chester M. Pierce MD Division of Global Psychiatry
Massachusetts General Hospital
Director of Mental Health
Partners in Health
Associate Professor of Psychiatry, and of Global Health and Social Medicine
Harvard Medical School
Shekhar Saxena
Former Professor of the Practice of Global Mental Health
Department of Global Health and Population
Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
This program is designed for practitioners, policy advisors, health administrators, service planners, business leaders, and civil society organization executives with a responsibility for mental health. Participants may hold titles such as:
- Director of mental health
- Administrator of mental health
- Mental health consultant
- Commissioner of mental health
- Chief mental health officer
- Public health planners
- Human resource director
- Director of Patient Relations
- Psychologist or Counselor
Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health will grant 1.6 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for this program, equivalent to 16 contact hours of education. Participants can apply these contact hours toward other professional education accrediting organizations.
All credits subject to final agenda.