Professorship for "Prevention and Mental Health"

Prof. Dr. Jennifer Belus

Decades of research in clinical psychology show that psychological and behavioral interventions can improve mental health and promote healthier lifestyles. Despite this robust evidence, the vast majority of individuals in need of such treatment do not receive it. This phenomenon, known as the treatment gap, ranges from 70–90% globally. Even in high-income countries, this gap exceeds 50%.

The goal of the Chair of Prevention and Mental Health is to develop innovative and scalable solutions to improve population mental health. We are dedicated to interdisciplinary research that develops and evaluates new models of care to expand access to evidence-based treatment for mental health and related problems across the globe.

We conduct high-quality research with the clear goal of having real-world impact. By collaborating with community partners and sharing evidence with policymakers and the public, we aim to bridge the gap between science and practice.

At the Chair of Prevention and Mental Health, we strive to produce research that is rigorous, creative, and guided by the principles of health equity. We view science as a tool not only for discovery, but also for actively addressing disparities and promoting the right to health for all. Our work prioritizes excellence while embracing innovation and is strengthened by the inclusion and amplification of diverse perspectives. We are committed to engaging with communities through collaboration, dialogue, and outreach, so that our research remains relevant, impactful, and responsive to the people who it is meant to help.

We achieve these goals by fostering a culture of integrity, humility, kindness, and continuous learning. We approach our work with openness and reflexivity, guided by research questions rather than predetermined outcomes, and upholding quality and rigor even in challenging circumstances. We value respectful and honest communication and view constructive feedback as an opportunity for growth. We embrace differences in culture and lived experience, actively engaging diverse perspectives to strengthen the scope, rigor, and relevance of our work. We embrace interdisciplinary collaboration as essential to advancing global mental health, recognizing that complex challenges require perspectives and methods from multiple fields. At every stage, we invest in mentorship and shared learning. We prioritize creating outputs that extend beyond academia, ensuring our work contributes meaningfully and has a real-world impact.

Research focus areas:

• Community-based models of care
• Social determinants of mental health
• People with HIV
• Low-resource settings

Information about the members of the Chair of Prevention and Mental Health is available on the team page.

Team

Information about current and previous courses offered by the chair is available on the teaching page.

Teaching