The Department of Community Mental Health aims to promote the mental health and wellbeing of the population in general, and of specific groups within it that experience social estrangement and discrimination, such as: people with long term mental challenges, minorities, people who have dealt with crisis or trauma, older people suffering from dementia, people suffering from developmental disabilities (physical, sensory, communicational, or mental) and those who suffer from chronic disease or illness.

The department is unique in its constant contact with the community, cooperating with organizations within the community, local populations, consumers, and with government run health and welfare institutions. In addition, the department’s faculty and students are engaged in social processes aimed at changing and improving conditions for estranged groups, that include reform in mental health related issues, changes in policies of the Ministry of Health, initiating treatment projects, and volunteer work.

Studies in the Department of Community Mental Health have a thesis track and a non-thesis track.