Population Mental Health Forum Series

About the series

The HSPH Population Mental Health Forum Series aims to disseminate state of the art research on the public health impact of mental disorders and evidence-based practice aimed at reducing the burden of mental disorders for individuals and society. Hosted by Dr. Karestan Koenen and colleagues, the HSPH Population Mental Health Forum Series is part of the Interdisciplinary Concentration in Population Mental Health and the Harvard Training Program in Psychiatric Epidemiology and Biostatistics. These forums are always open to the public and include a discussion and Q&A with attendees. 

The forum is currently paused with plans to return in the near future.

Past recordings and presenter materials can be found on our website and the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health Youtube Channel.


Watch the events

Missing Men and Other Gender Dilemmas in Eating Disorders Assessment for Research and Clinical Care

July 20, 2022 – Dr. Compte presents on the different outcomes that one may receive on using varying assessment tools for eating disorders and the implications that this has on research and clinical practice.

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Children's Mental Health

April 20, 2022 – Dr. Tamsin Ford discusses how the COVID-19 pandemic and resultant public health restrictions have affected the daily lives and mental health of children.

Cohort Effects and Adolescent Mental Health Trends

February 16, 2021 – Dr. Katherine Keyes presents on some unprecedented changes in adolescent mental health in the United States over recent years.

Disasters, Brain Health and Resilience: The Case of Lebanon

December 15, 2021 – Dr. Zeina Chemali discusses the multiple disastrous situations Lebanon has faced in the past decade and the programs offered in this tumultuous time with emphasis on brain health and resilience facing adverse events and trauma.

Social (In)Justice and Mental Health

November 17, 2021 – Dr. Ruth Shim joins us to discuss structural racism and its impact on mental health and to review topics in her new book, “Social (In)Justice and Mental Health.”

Psychosis in Global Context: Initial Findings from INTREPID II

October 20, 2021 – The INTREPID project (INTernational REsearch Programme on Psychoses In Diverse settings) team discusses their large scale research program focused on exploring the phenomenology, epidemiology, onset, and outcome of psychotic disorders in India, Nigeria, and Trinidad.

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Youth and Adolescent Mental Health

September 22, 2021 - Dr. Koenen will be joined by Dr. Madigan from the University of Calgary and Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute who will discuss research findings and Jordyn Cabbell who will provide the lived experience perspective.

Celebration of the Life and Career of Jane Murphy

May 19, 2021 - This panel brought together some of the late Dr. Jane Murphy’s close colleagues to her remember her impactful life and career.

Economic, social, and traumatic stressors and population mental health

April 21, 2021 - This presentation discussed how economic, social, or traumatic shocks influence mental health in populations, and how the impact of these events on population mental health can be mitigated.

Disordered Eating, Body Image & Community Mental Health in Malaysia

(Co-Sponsored with HSPH STRIPED) April 7, 2021 - Dr. Chua, founder of Relate Malaysia, a nonprofit mental health organization, will discuss recent research findings, the challenges Relate Malaysia faces, and new directions for community mental health in Malaysia.

Stress, Disordered Eating and Mental Health

March 17, 2021 - The panel will discuss their experiences working with individuals with disordered eating, the public health impact of disordered eating, as well as the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on disordered eating.

The Power of Forgiveness in Public Health: A Population/Public Health Scientist’s Dream Topic

February 17, 2021 - Dr. Everett Worthington discussed his work on the difference between decisional and emotional forgiveness and the impact of forgiveness on social, mental, and physical well-being.

Treating Survivors of Childhood Abuse and Interpersonal Trauma: STAIR Narrative Therapy

January 20, 2021 – Dr. Cloitre discussed the background of STAIR Narrative Therapy and give an overview of the treatment.

LGBTQ+ Mental Health

December 16, 2020 – Designed to increase awareness around LGBTQ+ mental health, three experts gave short presentations and then engaged in a panel discussion.

Indigenous Populations & Mental Health

November 18, 2020 – This forum was designed to increase awareness of mental health outcomes in American Indian and Alaskan Natives (AIAN).

Examining Day-To-Day Impacts of Climate

October 21, 2020 – Dr. Obradovich discussed the study of the social impacts of climate, with particular attention paid to the individual health-related effects of environmental stressors.