Inge Petersen

University of KwaZulu Natal, Durban, Psychology, School of Applied Human Sciences

Inge Petersen, PhD, University of KwaZulu-Natal, has been involved in mental health policy development and implementation with a specific focus on the integration of mental health into primary health care in South Africa since the early 1990s. She has published over 70 peer reviewed journal articles, books and book chapters. She was the lead partner for the district level intervention aspects of the Mental Health and Poverty Project which was a 5 year research programme consortium (2005-2010) funded by the UK Department for International Development (DFID) in four African countries (Ghana, South Africa, Uganda and Zambia) and is currently the South African Principal Investigator for the Programme for Integrating Mental Health Care (PRIME),  a 5 country research programme consortium (Ethiopia, India, Nepal, South Africa, Uganda) also funded by DFID.  She is also currently co-leader of the integration aspects of a research collaboration to strengthen emerging mental health systems in low- and middle-income countries (EMERALD), involving 6 developing countries and is one of three principal investigators of the COBALT (Comorbid Affective Disorders, AIDS/HIV, and Long Term Health) trial in South Africa, funded by the National Institute of Health (NIH).