
Dr. Harvey Skinner is professor emeritus of psychology & global health and was founding dean (2006-2016) of the Faculty of Health, York University. In addition, he is a senior fellow at the Dahdaleh Institute for Global Health Research. Previously, he was chair of Public Health Sciences, University of Toronto (now the Dalla Lana School of Public Health). Harvey is a registered psychologist in Ontario and a fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences. He is placed in the Top 2% World Scientists by the Stanford University worldwide analysis with respect to citations and impact metrics.
Harvey is an internationally recognized educator and scholar (7 books, over 150 articles) on what motivates individuals, organizations and communities to change. Four of his instruments are widely used internationally for the assessment of drug problems (Drug Abuse Screening Test), alcohol dependence (Alcohol Dependence Scale), family functioning (Family Assessment Measure), and eHealth literacy (eHEALS). He was one of the first to focus on linking behaviour change, organizational improvement and information technology (e-health), summarized in his 2002 book Promoting Health Through Organizational Change). Harvey has a longstanding interest in peacebuilding and global health for all. A landmark article was published in The Lancet 2005 on ‘Promoting Arab and Israeli Cooperation: A Model for Peacebuilding through Health Initiatives’.
Currently, Harvey co-leads the new Global Health: Wellness Impact Lab (WIL) at the Dahdaleh Institute. His focus is promoting global mental health drawing on Eastern, Indigenous and Western worldviews and practices. He has completed advanced training in Qi Gong (Tai Chi) practices with master teachers Lee Holden, Teja Bell and Robert Peng, as well as training in Capacitar body-based healing practices with Dr. Patricia Cane. Currently, he is leading online sessions for ‘Stress Busting: 30 Minutes of Wellness Practices’ open to students, staff/faculty and the community (https://stressbusting.info.yorku.ca/). At a personal level, Harvey maintains a regular practice of Mindfulness Meditation and Qi Gong. His passion is ‘healing ourselves, healing others, healing our world’.
Research keywords:
Global mental health, integrative health (Eastern, Indigenous, Western perspectives), mind-body wellness and healing practices (eg., qi gong - tai chi; mindfulness meditation)
You may also be interested in...
Recap — Dahdaleh Global Health Trainee Symposium
The Dahdaleh Institute proudly support intern positions, graduate research, and scholarly and creative activities in line with the three themes of planetary health, humanitarianism, and foresighting at York University. We held this year's Global Health ...Read more about this Post
Internship Program: Summer 2022 In Review
The Dahdaleh Institute worked with exceptional students this summer through our global health internship program, including students hired through the Research at York program, completing program practicums with us, and volunteers. Our interns conducted literature ...Read more about this Post
Dahdaleh Institute Researchers Awarded Over $1.4M from New Frontiers in Research Fund
Originally published by Yfile (4 May 2023). Written by Corey Allen, senior manager, research communications Seven projects led by York University researchers were awarded a combined $2.4 million from the New Frontiers in Research Fund (NFRF) in ...Read more about this Post
