GLOBAL MENTAL HEALTH TRACK

COMMUNITY-DRIVEN MENTAL HEALTH, FROM SOCIAL DETERMINANTS TO SYSTEMS AND ADVOCACY

Learn how communities, schools, and health systems care for mental health and wellbeing in different cultural and social contexts, alongside local practitioners, advocates, and community organizations. Study abroad for three to eight weeks in Rwanda or South Africa, or intern in any of six destinations in Africa and Southeast Asia, with U.S. academic credit through Hamline University, GEI's school of record.

CHOOSE YOUR DESTINATION

Every destination has its own Global Mental Health program page, with the programs, dates, and prices for that destination. You apply from there.
GHANA
KENYA
RWANDA
Family, faith, and community carry much of the care, while advocacy and community services work to close the gap.
Global Mental Health in Ghana >
A young, urban population talking openly about wellbeing, and counseling and youth organizations growing to meet it.
Global Mental Health in Kenya >
Care rebuilt from the community up, with community health workers trained to recognize distress.

Global Mental Health in Rwanda >
SOUTH AFRICA
THAILAND
VIETNAM
The continent's strongest professional sector, and communities where the nearest support is a school, a nurse, or a neighbor.
Global Mental Health in South Africa >
Provincial mental health services and village health volunteers, alongside a Buddhist culture of mindfulness.
Global Mental Health in Thailand >
Families as the first line of care, and schools and youth organizations responding to new pressures.

Global Mental Health in Vietnam >

ENGAGE WITH COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH

The Global Mental Health track explores how communities, health systems, and institutions respond to mental health challenges in different cultural and social contexts. Students examine the social determinants that shape mental health and wellbeing while engaging with local practitioners, advocates, and community organizations working to strengthen mental health systems and services.

The programs emphasize applied, field-based learning rather than classroom instruction. Students learn through site visits, community-based activities, collaborative projects, and guided reflection, and see what ethical, culturally responsive mental health practice looks like.
In the Global Field Engagement
Visit community mental health programs, schools, and social service organizations, work in small groups on field assignments, and take on a community-engaged learning project with a local host organization.
In the Global Practicum
Join GEI's Mentally Fit Schools initiative with local student peers and mental health specialists, and take a school through a mental fitness assessment, staff training, and the responses it calls for, handed over as a plan the school keeps.
In an Internship
Work full time with a community mental health program, social service or family support organization, or psychosocial support NGO. Placements are non-clinical: interns support programs and people and do not provide treatment.

FOUR WAYS TO TAKE PART

Short-term program
3 or 4 weeks, January or Summer, 4 credits
  • Global Field Engagement, or
  • Global Practicum




Leads to course credit
Summer Program
8 weeks, June and July, 8 credits

  • Global Field Engagement
  • Global Practicum
  • Capstone portfolio



Leads to a Certificate in Global Mental Health
SEMESTER Program
15 weeks, Fall or Spring, 16 credits

  • Global Field Engagement
  • Global Practicum
  • Language Intensive Course
  • Independent Study Project & Capstone Seminar

Leads to a Certificate in Global Engagement (Global Mental Health concentration)
INTERNSHIP Program
4, 6, or 8 weeks, January or Summer, 4+ credits
  • A supervised placement with a host organization in your field, with a cohort on set dates. Placements on your own dates are also available.




Leads to course credit, or standalone

WHAT EVERY PROGRAM INCLUDES

Learning in the field
Site visits, community-engaged projects, and guided reflection rather than classroom instruction, alongside local professionals and community partners.
A full-time team in every destination
GEI's in-country coordinators, faculty, and guides host every cohort from arrival to departure, with 24/7 emergency support throughout. Housing is included.
U.S. academic credit
Credit through Hamline University, GEI's school of record, which issues the transcript. Check with your academic advisor how many credits your degree program accepts.
Who the track suits
Social work, counseling, psychology, and human services students in particular. The study abroad programs are open to any major and level; internships generally to sophomores and above.

FOR SOCIAL WORK AND PSYCHOLOGY DEPARTMENTS AND STUDY ABROAD OFFICES

Every Global Mental Health program can be co-branded with your institution and offered as your own, under your name and brand as much or as little as you prefer. There is no minimum enrollment, U.S. credit comes through Hamline University, GEI's school of record, and a named GEI contact supports you and your students from the first conversation to the transcript.

HAVE QUESTIONS OR NEED ASSISTANCE?

If you have any questions or need help with your application, feel free to reach out via email or our contact form.