Mental and Behavioral Health

Sarah Chambers ’23 is an author of The Story of Foster Care, which includes stories of individuals who have experienced both foster care and human trafficking, the professional community working to support safe exits from trafficking, and child-welfare professionals who have observed the systemic connections.

Artanesha Jackson ’19 is a clinical social worker with over sixteen years of direct service experience. She takes pride in being a mentor and leader in her community. At UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland, she addressed health inequity through the Center for Child & Community Health.

Maymunah Yusuf Kadiri ’23 organized The Mental Health Conference: The Mind Behind the Mask to develop a practical plan for increasing awareness and educating the public about mental health issues in Nigeria.

Gabrielle Jackson ’20, Shubha Nagesh ’19 and Rose Mary Nakame ’20 propose four strategies to improve mental health equity both locally and globally. They emphasize practical, scalable solutions that address disadvantages and build resilience.

Through his work with UNICEF Eastern Caribbean, Bertrand Moses ’20 helped launch Young Caribbean Minds — a Digital Mental Health Hub for Children and Youth designed by and for young people across the Caribbean to champion their mental health. The Hub includes a Directory of Mental Health Services and a Mental Health & Well-being Workbook for Children and Young People.

Ana Ortega ’21 leads women’s circles in Chiapas, Mexico. Community health caregivers facilitate these circles, providing a space for women to socialize, share insights, relax, and build a sense of community and belonging as they address common mental health issues like depression and anxiety.

Ginger Ramirez ’17 is a co-founder of Communitails, which offers animal-assisted interventions as innovative and complementary therapies for mental health. Human-animal teams support through new and existing therapy and counseling services, fostering mutual healing between humans and animals.

Stephen Sevalie ’18is the Founder and Mental Health Director of Sustainable Health Systems Sierra Leone, a locally driven, nonprofit organization focused on producing evidence that addresses the needs of healthcare service users, managers, and policymakers. It promotes effective collaboration for capacity building to translate research into policy.