Mental Health Innovation Network (MHIN)

What Mental Health Innovation Network (MHIN) does

Mental Health Innovation Network (MHIN) is a UK-based nonprofit global community platform founded in 2013 and hosted at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM). It operates a free, open-access Drupal-based web platform (mhinnovation.net) that connects five primary user segments: mental health researchers, practitioners, policy-makers, service user advocates, and donors. Members use the platform to discover, share, and submit innovations through a curated innovations database; access toolkits (Mental Health Integration Toolkit, MHPSS Minimum Service Package, Toolkit for Low-Intensity Interventions, Rising Sun); participate in regional hubs covering Africa, Asia, and Latin America and the Caribbean; and engage via blogs, member directories, organization listings, and a comprehensive events calendar. The network also hosts flagship capacity-building programmes such as the Africa CDC Mental Health Leadership Programme, the Kofi Annan Global Health Leadership Programme (84 Fellows from 34+ African countries since 2020), and the MHPSS Hub in partnership with the Danish Red Cross.

MHIN's core technology is a Drupal-based content management system with a digital resource database, innovations catalogue, member directory, and the dedicated MHPSS MSP platform (mhpssmsp.org). The platform uses MailChimp for email newsletters and Google Analytics for traffic analysis, with SSL encryption. There is no public API, no mobile app, and no AI/ML capabilities described. The stack is appropriate for a content-publishing community but does not represent a differentiated technical asset.

The business model is grant-funded and freemium. MHIN does not charge membership fees and provides free access to all platform tools. Revenue derives from institutional grants and donor funding via partners including Africa CDC, WHO, the Danish Red Cross, the Kofi Annan Foundation, and host institution LSHTM. Selected partner programmes (e.g., Certificate Course and Postgraduate Diploma in International Mental Health Law, Policy & Rights-Based Services, Asido Mental Health Fellowship) have disclosed fees, but these are operated by third parties and are not direct MHIN revenue. The go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, with no traditional sales motion.

Name

Mental Health Innovation Network (MHIN)

Legal name

Mental Health Innovation Network (MHIN)

Website

https://mhinnovation.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Mental Health Innovation Network (MHIN) is a free, grant-funded global community platform hosted at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, connecting mental health researchers, practitioners, policy-makers, advocates, and donors across Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Global Mental Health Knowledge Platform

NAICS

Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

MHPSS & Trauma-Informed Support for Displaced Populations (BPADAHAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus & Resilience Programming (BPADAEAK)

Keywords

• Global mental health
• Mental health innovation
• Psychosocial support network
• Knowledge sharing platform
• Community health network

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Institutional Funding and Grants: MHIN operates as an initiative hosted at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM). Its primary funding model relies on institutional grants, donor funding, and partnerships with organizations such as Africa CDC, WHO, and other global health bodies. The network does not charge membership fees and provides free access to its platform, resources, and community tools.
2. Hosted Programme Management: MHIN hosts and manages collaborative programmes such as the Africa Mental Health Leadership Programme and the MHPSS Collaborative, with funding from Africa CDC and other institutional partners. Staff and operational costs are covered through these grant-funded arrangements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

MHIN operates a free, open-access global community platform that connects mental health innovators — researchers, practitioners, policy-makers, service user advocates, and donors — to share resources, evidence-based toolkits, and innovations. The platform hosts a searchable innovations database, regional hubs covering Africa, Asia, and Latin America and the Caribbean, and collaborates on capacity-building programmes such as the Africa Mental Health Leadership Programme. It also hosts the MHPSS Minimum Service Package digital platform for humanitarian response coordination.

Product overview

Mental Health Innovation Network (MHIN) is a global community platform for mental health innovators, not a traditional software product company. MHIN operates as a knowledge-sharing network connecting researchers, practitioners, policy-makers, service user advocates, and donors. The platform provides a database of mental health innovations, hosts collaborations and toolkits (including the MHPSS Minimum Service Package), maintains regional hubs (Africa, Asia, Latin America and Caribbean), offers resources and learning materials, and facilitates community engagement through blogs, member directories, and organization listings. Key offerings include the Mental Health Integration Toolkit, Toolkit for Low-Intensity Interventions, Rising Sun toolkit, and support for the Africa CDC Mental Health Leadership Programme.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MHPSS MSP: Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Minimum Service Package - a digital platform hosted on MHIN for humanitarian response to mental health and psychosocial support needs.
• Mental Health Leadership Programme (MHLP)
• SUCCEED Africa

Products and services

• MHIN Community Platform A free, open-access global community platform (mhinnovation.net) that connects researchers, practitioners, policy-makers, service user advocates, and donors to share innovative mental health resources and ideas. The platform hosts an innovations database, resources, blogs, events calendar, member directory, and organization registry.
• MHPSS Minimum Service Package (MSP) Digital Platform

Quantifiable outcome

• 172 graduates from 67 countries trained through the International Mental Health Law, Policy & Rights programme since 2008
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMHIN is hosted at and supported by LSHTM, which provides institutional credibility, infrastructure, and administrative backing. MHIN's contact email ([email protected]) is an LSHTM domain. This is the foundational institutional host relationship for the network.
• Africa CDC (Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAfrica CDC partners with MHIN to implement the Africa Mental Health Leadership Programme (MHLP), leveraging the existing Kofi Annan Global Health Leadership Programme. Africa CDC selects 15 senior public health professionals with backgrounds in NCDs and/or mental health to participate annually, embedding mental health leadership into Africa's public health agenda.
• World Health Organization (WHO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWHO collaborates with MHIN on multiple initiatives including the Special Initiative for Mental Health (12 countries), the Mental Health Integration Toolkit, MHPSS resources, and the Step-by-Step and Doing What Matters in Times of Stress programmes. WHO's resources are featured on the MHIN platform and WHO staff are active community members.
• Danish Red CrosscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerThe Danish Red Cross hosts and supports the MHPSS Hub, providing legal identity, employment of staff, and operational infrastructure. The MHPSS Hub operates under the Danish Red Cross's legal identity and is led by a Director reporting to the International Director at Danish Red Cross. The Hub aims to improve mental health outcomes through technical assistance, capacity development, and knowledge sharing for National Societies, IFRC, and ICRC.
• Kofi Annan FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Kofi Annan Foundation co-implements the Africa CDC – Kofi Annan Global Health Leadership Programme with Africa CDC since 2020. The programme is named in honor of former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and aims to build visionary public health leaders for Africa.
• The Carter CentermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Carter Center partnered with Sierra Leone's Ministry of Health to launch the Youth Mental Health Champions Network. Dr. Abdul Jalloh, Director of Mental Health at Sierra Leone's Ministry of Health, credited The Carter Center for standing with Sierra Leone to strengthen governance, expand community services, and promote human rights-based mental health care.
• Centre for Mental Health Law & Policy, Indian Law Society, PunemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Centre delivers the International Mental Health Law, Policy & Rights-Based Services programme (Certificate Course and Postgraduate Diploma), which is promoted on the MHIN platform. The programme has trained 172 graduates from 67 countries since 2008 and is aligned with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
• Rising SunminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRising Sun is a thematic collaboration hosted on MHIN, providing a toolkit for mental health integration in specific settings. The collaboration includes strategies for using the toolkit and is part of MHIN's suite of collaborative projects.
• SUCCEED AfricaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSUCCEED Africa is a multi-country collaborative project providing comprehensive support for people living with psychosocial disabilities. Asido Foundation is an implementing partner, providing support for people living with psychosis through hospital accompaniments, peer support/caregivers group meetings, and livelihood attachments. The project covers Malawi, Sierra Leone, Zimbabwe, and Nigeria.
• MHPSS CollaborativemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe MHPSS Collaborative is a key thematic collaboration hosted on MHIN, focused on mental health and psychosocial support. It contributes to MHIN's humanitarian and emergency response portfolio alongside the Mental Health Integration Toolkit and COVID-19 mental health resources.
• University of IbadanmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAsido Foundation, an MHIN community organization, has a strategic relationship with the University of Ibadan. Prof. Jibril Abdulmalik serves as a professor of Psychiatry and Global Mental Health at the University of Ibadan, and the institution collaborates on the SUCCEED Africa project.
• Duke-NUS Medical SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDuke-NUS Medical School co-hosted the Inaugural Global Mental Health in Asia Symposium which led to the launch of the MHIN Asia hub, establishing a key partnership for MHIN's regional expansion in Asia.
• Lifeline InternationalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLifeline International partners with Asido Foundation (an MHIN community member) on suicide prevention initiatives, contributing to advocacy and crisis response efforts in Nigeria.
• University of GlasgowmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Abdul Jalloh holds an Honorary Clinical Lectureship at the University of Glasgow's School of Health and Wellbeing. Dr. Jalloh obtained an MSc in Global Mental Health from the University of Glasgow. The university also collaborates on global research in health systems, mental health integration, and implementation science.
• Africa Institute for Public HealthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Abdul Jalloh is a Fellow of the Africa Institute for Public Health, representing a credentialing and professional network partnership that connects MHIN's community to broader public health capacity building efforts in Africa.
• UNAIDSminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Abdul Jalloh has served as a consultant to UNAIDS, representing a consulting relationship between MHIN community leadership and the global health agency.
• UNDPminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Abdul Jalloh has served as a consultant to UNDP, connecting MHIN community leadership with the United Nations development system.
• Partners In HealthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Abdul Jalloh has consulted for Partners In Health, linking MHIN community expertise to one of the world's leading community health organizations.
• Beck Institute for CBTminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAsido Foundation partnered with the Beck Institute for CBT to organize training for mental health professionals on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, enhancing the clinical capacity of MHIN community members.
• WHO Mental Health Gap Action Programme (mhGAP)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJarra Marega is a WHO-certified lead trainer for mhGAP, leading The Gambia's initiative to integrate mental health into primary health care through WHO mhGAP training. mhGAP is a key WHO programme that MHIN actively promotes and supports through its platform and community.
• BasicNeeds International FederationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBasicNeeds-Ghana is a member of the BasicNeeds International Federation, a global network focused on ensuring people with mental illness and epilepsy can access treatment and live within their communities. The federation operates across multiple countries and is part of MHIN's ecosystem.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• The Carter Center Mental Health Program: Aims to increase access to mental health care globally through partnerships with ministries of health; an MHIN strategic partner. Comparable as a global mental health policy and systems-strengthening organization, though within a broader institutional portfolio.
• Mental Health Foundation (UK): A UK-based mental health charity focused on research, policy, and public education. Comparable to MHIN in mission and knowledge-dissemination role, though primarily domestic (UK) rather than globally distributed across LMICs.
• WHO Special Initiative for Mental Health: WHO's flagship mental health systems-strengthening initiative operating across 12 countries. Directly comparable to MHIN's mission and partnership scope, though operating as a much larger UN agency programme rather than a community platform.
• Wellcome Trust (Mental Health Portfolio): A major global charitable foundation that funds mental health research and innovation globally. Comparable to MHIN as a funder and convener in mental health, though it operates as a much larger, broader life-sciences/philanthropy organization rather than a focused community platform.

Direct peers

• StrongMinds: A nonprofit organization treating depression in sub-Saharan Africa using Interpersonal Group Therapy across Uganda, Zambia, and partner countries. Comparable to MHIN's community-member organizations as a global mental health implementation NGO embedded in the MHIN network.
• Grand Challenges in Global Mental Health: An initiative aggregating the global mental health research community to identify and prioritize key research challenges. Comparable to MHIN as a knowledge-sharing and research-prioritization platform in the global mental health ecosystem.
• Global Mental Health Peer Network: A peer-led network connecting global mental health researchers, practitioners, and students—particularly those from low- and middle-income countries. Directly comparable as a community-of-practice platform with similar audience and mission.
• BasicNeeds: An international organization implementing mental health programmes for people with mental illness and epilepsy across multiple countries. A member of MHIN's ecosystem and directly comparable as a global mental health implementation and capacity-building organization.
• World Federation for Mental Health: An international membership organization founded in 1948 that brings together mental health professionals, service users, and advocates across 70+ countries. Closely comparable to MHIN in mission, multi-stakeholder constituency, and global convener role.
• Movement for Global Mental Health: A global network of individuals and organizations advocating for mental health as a global development priority. Directly comparable to MHIN as a peer convener network spanning researchers, practitioners, and policymakers in global mental health.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mental-health-innovation-network

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Mental Health Innovation Network (MHIN)