Dr Julian Eaton

Biography

Julian Eaton is a public health psychiatrist, and Professor in Global Mental Health in the Department of International Public Health at Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM).

Prior to starting at LSTM, Julian worked in international development and global mental health, as Mental Health Director for CBM Global. He lived in Nigeria and Togo between 2003 and 2017, and worked on promoting greater access to health care services, social inclusion, and realisation of rights for people with mental health conditions and psychosocial disabilities, focused mainly on poor and marginalised communities. This included providing technical support for reform of government mental health services, updating policy and legislation, and strengthening the voice of service user organisations and broader civil society. For 10 years, Julian was based in the Centre for Global Mental Health at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, including as co-Director and lead for the Mental Health Innovation Network.

Research interests

Julian has published on issues relating to public mental health in Low- and Middle-Income Countries, including decentralising services, and integration of mental health into primary health care to address the huge global mental health treatment gap. He has also collaborated on a body of research on integrating mental health and wellbeing considerations into care for people with Neglected Tropical Diseases, resulting in key WHO guidance.

Following practical experience in responding to outbreaks including Ebola, Zika virus and COVID-19, Julian now leads the Mental Health and Psychosocial Support team at the UK Public Health Rapid Support Team at London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. As a long-standing member of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee MHPSS Reference Group, he has supported development of international guidelines, including on disability inclusive approaches to mental health and psychosocial support and disaster risk reduction. More recently, this has included understanding how to protect mental health in the context of the climate crisis.

Julian has a particular interest in mental health and human rights, including as a member of the Royal College of Psychiatrists Human Rights Committee. He was a member of the Lancet Commission on Global Mental Health, and contributes in an advisory capacity to many other initiatives including the Movement for Global Mental Health, Mental Health Innovations Network, and the WHO’s mental health work, including as a founder member of the mhGAP Guidelines Development Committee, policy and legislation guidance, and the QualityRights initiative.

Teaching

Julian’s current work includes capacity strengthening for the mental health workforce in the Africa Mental Health Leadership Programme with Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, and he has developed curricula for front-line workers in emergency settings. He supervises PhD students, as well as teaching MSc students and lecturing on specialist courses in public mental health.

Selected research publications

Social and healthcare-seeking experiences of people affected with lymphedema in Bangladesh – Journal: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases – Published: 12th August 2025

Unseen scars Understanding the mental health burdens of climate change on indigenous and rural Peruvian women – Journal: PLOS Climate – Published: 24th June 2025

Improving outcomes for people who are homeless and have severe mental illness in Ethiopia, Ghana and Kenya: overview of the HOPE programme: overview of the HOPE programme – Journal: Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences – Published: 21st April 2025

Effectiveness of psychological crisis interventions during infectious disease outbreaks in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review of Randomized Control Trials: A systematic review of Randomized Control Trials – Journal: Global Mental Health – Published: 26th February 2025

Living with psychosis in West and Southeast Africa: SUCCEED Africa’s four-country situation analysis: SUCCEED Africa’s four-country situation analysis – Journal: Global Mental Health – Published: 8th January 2025

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