Vikram Patel

Vikram Patel is Professor of International Mental Health at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. He is based in Sangath Centre, Porvorim, Goa, India.

Professor Patel is a psychiatrist with a special interest in public health aspects of mental health in developing countries. His present work requires him to spend much of his time in Goa, India, working with Goan NGOs and the Government of Goa’s Directorate of Health Services. He has been involved in the founding of two NGOs devoted to mental health service development, research, and advocacy in Goa. He is also engaged in a number of training courses to build capacity in international mental health and public health research capacity in South Asia.

Professor Patel’s main research in recent years has been on the cultural concepts, epidemiology, and treatment of common mental disorders in general health care settings in India. His recent research has focused on studying the social determinants of mental disorders, the relationship of mental disorders with gynecological morbidities, adolescent health, HIV/AIDS and maternal and child health, and the development and evaluation of complex interventions for mental disorders (including child mental disorders) integrated in routine care settings.