Vision

Background

The Team

Our Board

Partners

Funders

Our Vision

We want to see a world where everyone, everywhere, has someone to turn to in support of their mental health.

What we want

Commitment

Greater resources committed by global institutions, governments, businesses, communities and individuals to improve global mental health.

Community

Building kinder, stronger communities that better care for one another.

Care

Ensuring everyone, everywhere has access to care and support.

CEO Story

“In 2013, I was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and chronic depression which pushed me to the edge. I could afford the treatment I needed and, with the right support, I recovered. The experience propelled me into discovering incredible initiatives around the world aimed at prevention, promotion and providing treatment and recovery solutions for those of us struggling with our mental health.

However, I also discovered that in many cases the services were sporadic, poorly funded and insufficient to meet the enormous global demand for mental health care. The global mental health crisis has reached epidemic proportions, yet funding for mental health care is flat-lining. Much greater action is needed.

In 2016, I was appointed Campaign Director for Heads Together, a mental health campaign spearheaded by Their Royal Highnesses, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry. I started to realise the need for much greater action globally and worked to bring together campaigners, strategic partners, funders and mental health experts from around the world to launch United for Global Mental Health in September 2018.

Together, I hope we can create a healthier, more productive and kinder world”.

Elisha London, Founder and CEO, United for Global Mental Health

The Team

Working in partnership with agencies and experts in the field, we exist to support and unite the global effort to promote mental health. We support and enhance the efforts of others, focusing on advocacy to mobilise resources at every level, from government to civil society and international institutions.

In 2013, Elisha suffered a trauma and was diagnosed with PTSD and depression. While she received the support and treatment she needed to recover, she recognised most don’t, and set about using her wealth of experience in international campaigning to propel the world into action. In 2018, alongside her founding team, partners and advisors from around the world, she launched United for Global Mental Health.

From 2012 to 2017, Sarah worked with and for the WHO. She saw first hand the impact of poor mental health on individuals and communities. Having fundraised for WHO on mental health, Sarah was inspired to help develop and launch United for Global Mental Health. She has also worked for the World Bank, British Government, Oxfam GB and launched and ran another charity, Malaria No More UK.

Having seen people close to him affected by mental health issues, Zander was excited to develop and launch United for Global Mental Health. With over 20 years experience on campaigns and advocacy for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Bono’s ONE Campaign, Comic Relief, Global Citizen, Oxfam, David Cameron, Amnesty and Peace Child International, Zander is keen to help global mental health get the attention it deserves.

Kel brings 20 years of advocacy and campaigning experience on global issues to United for Global Mental Health and its partners. Having worked on global development issues from health to education to climate, Kel recognises that mental health underpins the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He is motivated by the power of advocacy to increase political commitment and funding for mental health.

After ten years with Oxfam, Unicef and Comic Relief, Nicky became a creative consultant in 2010. Having worked on global campaigns for 20 years she was inspired by the ambition of this challenge. Unlike most developmental issues, mental health affects everyone, everywhere. She believes great creativity changes hearts and minds in equal measure and no issue needs it more than mental health.

John leads Global Health Strategies (GHS) European office, which currently focuses on non-communicable diseases, access to medicines and polio eradication. Prior to GHS, John worked on policy, advocacy and communications in India, South Africa and the US. He is keen to bring in new voices on the issue and help drive political and financial commitments for global mental health.

Having worked with VSO, NSPCC, Sported and Unicef UK, Katie is interested in challenging the stigma around mental health and believes United for Global Mental Health can help cultivate a more accepting and supportive global community. As a yoga teacher in her spare time, she believes in a holistic approach to managing mental well being and preventing mental ill health.

Having worked on Indigenous mental health services in Australia, mental health policy research in Tanzania and anti-stigma research with War Child, Erica is passionate about making mental healthcare affordable, accessible and of high quality for all. She holds an MSc in Global Mental Health from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and King’s College London.

Having volunteered with health care services in Liberia and Malawi, Anna witnessed first hand how minimal mental health services are in many developing countries. She recently graduated from the University of East Anglia with a degree in International Development.

Rosh joins United for Global Mental Health as a management accountant who has worked for a range of consulting and professional services companies on all aspects of office management.

Our Board

Sir Ian is a British businessman leading efforts on global mental health in the private sector. He is Chairman of Barclays UK and the Heads Together campaign, spearheaded by Their Royal Highnesses, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry.

Professor Thornicroft is a pre-eminent psychiatrist, professor and global mental health practitioner. As an expert in the field, he writes about global mental health practice and stigma reduction and chaired the WHO mhGAP guidelines.

Samantha is a Partner at Herbert Smith Freehills law firm and Co-Chair of Herbert Smith Freehills’ Ability Network. Alongside her legal career, Sam is a mental health mentor and has spoken extensively about her own experiences and the importance of raising awareness around mental health in the workplace.

Columbian/Swiss by heritage, Natasha manages a private portfolio of investments, including impact investments and philanthropic endeavours. She serves on both the steering committee of the NextGen Impact Leadership Accelerator program at the University of Zurich as well as the advisory committee for The Conduit social membership club’s impact fund.