Dr Daniela Fuhr
Dipl-Psych MSc DrPH
Assistant Professor
in Mental Health Systems
LSHTM
15-17 Tavistock Place
London
WC1H 9SH
United Kingdom
My research addresses the treatment gap for common mental disorders, and focuses on the design and evaluation of mental health programmes for disadvantaged and vulnerable populations. I am particularly interested in low intensity interventions and task-sharing in low and middle-income countries. One important aspect of my work is to strengthen mental health systems in resource constrained settings, and to seek ways to overcome health system challenges to improve mental health outcomes. I have worked on both experimental and observational study designs, and apply mixed methods to my research projects.
Previously, I have worked on substance use disorders, and have monitored health system resources for the treatment and prevention of substance use disorders at a global scale. Before joining LSHTM, I worked at the WHO Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse in Geneva for several years.
Centres
Teaching
I teach on the MSc in Global Mental Health, and am the organizer of the module “Design and Evaluation of Mental Health Programmes”. I tutor on the MSc in Global Mental Health, and take on research degree students with an interest in Global Mental Health.
Research
Currently, I am predominantly working on two projects.
Syrian Refugees Mental Health Care Systems (STRENGHTS):
Funded by the European Commission Horizon 2020 scheme, STRENGTHS aims to provide a framework for scaling-up the delivery and uptake of effective community-based mental health strategies to address the specific needs of Syrian refugees. The project will outline necessary steps needed to integrate Problem Management+ (PM+) into the health systems of Germany, Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Switzerland, the Netherlands and Sweden. Specifically, we are employing rapid appraisal methodology to analyse the responsiveness of the health system in addressing the mental health care needs of refugees in the study countries, and are conducting cross-sectional population-level surveys and in-depth qualitative research to explore access to mental health care. This will inform the implementation and scaling up of the PM+ programmes.
South Asian Hub for Advocacy, Research and Education on mental health (SHARE):
SHARE is a NIMH funded project which seeks to develop and adapt a psychological treatment for perinatal depression. The active ingredient of the intervention is based on behavioural activation, and is delivered by peer counsellors in the community. We are evaluating the effectiveness of the intervention through individual and cluster randomized controlled trials in Goa, India, and Rawalpindi, Pakistan.
