CGMH faculty have cultivated partnerships across Asia, including collaborations through Duke’s international programs at Duke Kunshan University in China and Duke-NUS (National University of Singapore) Medical School. Research and implementation projects in the region span a range of priority areas, including child and family mental health, immigrant and refugee mental health, and community-based approaches to care. In addition to research, CGMH has established strong educational partnerships across Asia, providing training, mentorship, and capacity-building opportunities for students, trainees, and local professionals.
China
CGMH faculty affiliates maintain partnerships with academic institutions and research organizations in China, supporting collaborative efforts in mental health research and training, including work at Macao University and Duke Kunshan University (DKU).
Featured Site:
Duke Kunshan University (DKU)
In 2025 the Center received a grant to foster collaboration between Duke Kunshan and Duke University. Currently, the CGMH is working to develop a sister chapter of the GMH Trainee Group at both DKU in order to strengthen regional networks, facilitate collaborative research opportunities, and provide shared training platforms for students and early-career professionals across both campuses.
Representative Projects in China
Partner Profiles
Rebecca Hock
Sri Lanka
CGMH faculty conduct work in Sri Lanka across a range of areas, including the mental health impacts of climate change and the mental health of incarcerated populations. Partnerships include the Duke–Ruhuna Collaboration—a longstanding partnership spanning more than 17 years between the Duke Global Health Institute (DGHI) and the University of Ruhuna—as well as collaborations with Sri Lanka Child and Family Services.
Partner Profiles
Giselle Dass, Madonna Solomon, Ruvini Kurukulasooriya
Thailand
CGMH faculty affiliates engage in initiatives supporting child and family mental health, as well as immigrant and refugee mental health, in Thailand. This work is carried out in collaboration with academic partners such as Chiang Mai University and community-based organizations including the Sermpanya Foundation.
Featured Partner:
Sermpanya Foundation
The Sermpanya Foundation supports refugees, migrants, and other vulnerable populations on the Thai–Myanmar border through community-driven education and storytelling. By training young refugee filmmakers, the Foundation creates culturally accessible films that raise awareness on health, safety, and well-being, reaching thousands of people annually across border communities. CGMH Director Dr. Eve Puffer is collaborating with Sermpanya and the Global Parenting Initiative on Being Family, a film project that combines evidence-based strategies with the Foundation’s grassroots storytelling approach to reduce child abuse and strengthen family functioning.
Representative Projects in Thailand
Partner Profiles
Daranee Junla, Saengduean Yotanyamaneewong
