Julian Eaton is a public health psychiatrist, and Professor in Global Mental Health in the Department of International Public Health at Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM).

Prior to starting at LSTM, Julian worked in international development and global mental health, as Mental Health Director for CBM Global. He lived in Nigeria and Togo between 2003 and 2017, and worked on promoting greater access to health care services, social inclusion, and realisation of rights for people with mental health conditions and psychosocial disabilities, focused mainly on poor and marginalised communities. This included providing technical support for reform of government mental health services, updating policy and legislation, and strengthening the voice of service user organisations and broader civil society. For 10 years, Julian was based in the Centre for Global Mental Health at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, including as co-Director and lead for the Mental Health Innovation Network.

Julian has published on issues relating to public mental health in Low- and Middle-Income Countries, including decentralising services, and integration of mental health into primary health care to address the huge global mental health treatment gap. He has also collaborated on a body of research on integrating mental health and wellbeing considerations into care for people with Neglected Tropical Diseases, resulting in key WHO guidance.

Following practical experience in responding to outbreaks including Ebola, Zika virus and COVID-19, Julian now leads the Mental Health and Psychosocial Support team at the UK Public Health Rapid Support Team at London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. As a long-standing member of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee MHPSS Reference Group, he has supported development of international guidelines, including on disability inclusive approaches to mental health and psychosocial support and disaster risk reduction. More recently, this has included understanding how to protect mental health in the context of the climate crisis.

Julian has a particular interest in mental health and human rights, including as a member of the Royal College of Psychiatrists Human Rights Committee. He was a member of the Lancet Commission on Global Mental Health, and contributes in an advisory capacity to many other initiatives including the Movement for Global Mental Health, Mental Health Innovations Network, and the WHO's mental health work, including as a founder member of the mhGAP Guidelines Development Committee, policy and legislation guidance, and the QualityRights initiative.