The Athena Network

The Athena Network is a non-profit association comprised of mental health professionals who provide psychological and psychosocial support to immigrants in high-risk situations. These professionals share their experiences in providing assistance, conducting research, and proposing initiatives to improve these individuals' mental health protection.

The Athena Network was founded at the"Migration, Mental Health and Transculturality in the 21st Century" Congressof the World Psychiatry Association, held in Barcelona from 30th October to 1st November 2010. It emerged as an initiative of the Ulises Syndrome Programme at the University of Barcelona and the School of Public Health at the University of California, Berkeley, both institutions with extensive experience in immigrant mental health.

Founders of the Athena Network

Joseba Achotegui

Programa Síndrome de Ulises de la Universitat de Barcelona. Hospital Sant Pere Claver, GASIR

Xóchtil Castañeda

Health Initiative of the Americas. School of Public Health. University of California at Berkeley

Rachid Bennegadi

Centre Minkowska
University V Paris

Why was the Athena Network created?

The Athena Network was born out of the observation of two key ideas: on one hand, the increasing number of extreme and dangerous situations faced by some migrants, and on the other hand, the existing gaps in current support networks.

The name Athena evokes the figure of the Greek goddess who protected Ulysses on his long journey, helping him through the adversities and dangers he faced. Athena is the goddess of knowledge and humanism, values that we consider fundamental.