Epidemiology & Public Health

Mental Health and Behavioral Epidemiology

Mental health is an integral part of public health, yet it remains under-researched and underfunded globally. This session will examine the burden of mental illness across populations, the epidemiology of depression, anxiety, substance use, and suicide, and how behavioral factors contribute to long-term health outcomes. Emphasis will be placed on stigma reduction, mental health services integration, and population-level data collection. Attendees will explore behavioral surveillance models and community resilience frameworks that offer culturally sensitive, scalable interventions.