Dr. Wietse A. Tol’s interdisciplinary, systems-focused research and practice focus is on mental health and psychosocial support interventions for adversity-affected populations in low- and middle-income countries. In particular, his work centers on (integrated) interventions that address the complex relationships between social conditions and mental health, and he is acutely interested in understanding how research can lead to improved practice (and vice versa). His work transcends the barriers of different academic disciplines and involves collaboration between actors across multiple policy and practice sectors. Following a social justice perspective, Wietse’s research specifically concentrates on marginalised populations affected by armed conflicts and disasters.

He is Professor of Global Mental Health at the Section of Global Health, Department of Public Health at the University of Copenhagen; Professor by Special Appointment of Global Mental Health and Social Justice at the VU University Amsterdam; Adjunct Professor at the Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health; and Senior Technical Advisor with HealthRight International. He holds an MA in Clinical and Health Psychology (Leiden University), a PhD in Public Mental Health (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam), and was a postdoctoral fellow at Yale University. He regularly consults with UN agencies and (international) non-governmental organizations in the areas of mental health and psychosocial support needs assessment, intervention selection and development, monitoring, and evaluation.

Link to publications