Mental Disorders and Illness

Paul F. Granello, Ph.D., LPCC is an Associate Professor of Counselor Education at The Ohio State University, a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, and one of the co-founders of the State of Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation. He has authored or co-authored five books (three on suicide) and published over 30 peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters. He has received $2.5 million in grant funding for suicide prevention and presented more than 200 times at national and international conferences.

Gayathri Ramprasad is the Founder and President of ASHA International a nonprofit organization promoting personal, organizational, and community wellness. She is a mental health advocate and a social entrepreneur with a unique insight into the world of mental health. And, the author of Shadows in the Sun: Healing from Depression and Finding the Light Within. Her successful battle in overcoming life-threatening mental illness and her amazing recovery taught her the power of hope and holistic wellness. Now, she shares that message with others. Since the launch of ASHA International’s wellness campaign, Healthy Minds, Healthy Lives in 2006, Gayathri’s keynotes, wellness workshops, and cultural competence trainings have reached more than 30,000 people nationally and internationally, with a resounding message of hope and healing. Individuals and organizations alike applaud Gayathri as an agent of hope and transformational change. She received her first undergraduate degree in science from Bangalore University in India, a second undergraduate degree in Management and Information Systems, and a Masters in Business Administration, from George Fox University in Newberg, OR. She is a professional speaker and a member of the National Speaker’s Association and the International Federation for Professional Speakers. She is also a Certified Peer Specialist (CPS). She is the winner of the 2006 Eli Lilly Welcome Back Award for Lifetime Achievement and the 2006 Voice Award for Consumer Leadership awarded by the U. S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). She is also the winner of the 2008 Outstanding Alumna Award from her alma mater George Fox University.

Mental health advocate and a social entrepreneur with a unique insight into the world of mental health.

Dr. Zanetos is an Assistant Professor in the College of Nursing and Health Sciences at the College of Coastal Georgia. She has countless years of experience as a registered nurse and nurse educator in higher education. She is published in nursing journals and has been a previous speaker at the International Conference for Geriatrics and Gerontology.

Professor Ivbijaro is a specialist in Primary Care Mental Health and mental health service re-design. He produced‘ Integrating Mental Health Into Primary Care: a global perspective with WHO in 2008, has presented papers and original thinking on primary care mental health integration at many local and international conferences and has published a range of articles in peer reviewed journals. He recently edited a book entitled ‘Companion to Primary Care Mental Health’ an international collaboration of 110 authors from all continents of the world, published in 2012, to promote access to and delivery of primary care mental health globally which received a five star (100%) Doody’s Review. Professor Ivbijaro chaired and completed the Case for Change for Mental Health for London, UK in 2011,has contributed to the Mental Health Service Pack in the European Union (EU) which advocates for the development of mental health services in all member states of the EU and his contribution to the UK National Health Service was recognized in 2012 when he was awarded an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) by her Majesty the Queen and is an International Distinguished Fellow of the APA (American Psychiatric Association).He is the President of the World Dignity Project (www.worlddignityproject.com) to address stigma.

His area of interest is the empowerment of primary care worldwide to embrace the principles behind the Alma Ata declaration.

Associate Professor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the University of Monastir (Tunisia), he is responsible for the unit of child psychiatry, specializing in the management of patients with neurodevelopmental disorders. He has conducted research on autism, learning disorders and ADD / ADHD (prevalence studies , validation and cross-cultural studies of common neurodevelopmental trajectories). It is also a national expert in the specific learning disabilities and co- founder of several community structures for autism. Currently he is President of the African Association for Mental Health of Children and Adolescents and Coordinator of the main training program of the International Association for Child Psychiatry and adolescents.

Neuroscience, Pediatrics, Neurology, Health Psychology, Psychiatry, Developmental Psychology, Neuropsychology, Psychotherapy

Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, Mental Health, Depression

Dr. Zanetos is an Assistant Professor in the College of Nursing and Health Sciences at the College of Coastal Georgia. She has countless years of experience as a registered nurse and nurse educator in higher education. She is published in nursing journals and has been a previous speaker at the International Conference for Geriatrics and Gerontology.

Nursing Education, Public Speaking, Adult Education, Teaching

Occupational stress and stress management programs, capacity building for hospital personnel, school mental health, psychiatric rehabilitation, child and adolescent psychiatric nursing

Sharon L. Bowman, PhD, HSPP, ABPP, LMHC is currently professor and chair of the Department of Counseling Psychology, Social Psychology and Counseling. She is a graduate of The Ohio State University (psychology BA); the University of Akron counseling (psychology MA); and Southern Illinois University – Carbondale (counseling psychology PhD). Her doctoral internship was completed in the counseling center at the University of Delaware. In addition, Dr. Bowman is a psychologist in private practice.

Dr. Bowman ‘s work is focused in areas of diversity (race and ethnicity, women’s issues, LGB issues), in mentoring and supervision, and in disaster and trauma psychology (she is a disaster mental health counselor with the American Red Cross). Dr. Bowman generally teaches doctoral courses in supervision and in advanced diversity, and master’s courses in mental health counseling and in practicum.

Dr. Brigitte Khoury is an associate professor and clinical psychologist at the Psychiatry Department at the Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut. She is the director of the Clinical Psychology Training Program, and the Director of the Arab Regional Center for Research and Training in Mental Health. Her main activities revolve around clinical work, teaching and supervising psychology graduate students and conducting research. Her research interests relate to sexuality and reproductive health, diagnostic and classification processes, and comparing psychology across international settings. She is a member of the advisory group for the revision of the International Classification of Diseases with WHO-Geneva; and the regional coordinator for the field studies in the Arab region. She is the founding president of the Lebanese Psychological Association and a current board member. She is also a founding board member of the Arab Union for Psychological Science and the current Vice President.

Her research interests relate to sexuality and reproductive health, diagnostic and classification processes, and comparing psychology across international settings.

Leyla Akoury- Dirani earned her PhD in Clinical psychology and psychopathology from Paris 5. She is currently an associate professor in the department of Psychiatry of the American University of Beirut She provides clinical services, and teaches medical students and clinical psychology interns. Dr Akoury Dirani is also the director of the Child Protection Program and Member of the Ethics Committee at the American University of Beirut Medical Center. As scholar, Dr Akoury Dirani focuses her research on prevention and intervention studies in the field of child and adolescent mental health. Dr. Akoury Dirani is also the current president of the Lebanese Psychological Association.

Child and Adolescent Clinical Psychology