Transcultural SIG Conference 2021 - Recognising the Relationship between Culture and Mental Health

Recognising the Relationship between culture and mental health

Contemporary developments such as globalization, mass immigration and the uprooting of populations, puts into focus the impact of these dynamics on mental health.

Transcultural psychiatry has undergone a conceptual reformulation in the last two decades. There is now more focus on what is called the illness experience than on the disease process, the latter understood as illness as health practitioners view it. Western medicine, of which psychiatry is a part, is grounded in positivist epistemological principles that stress the biological processes of disease. There is an alternative but also complementary way of thinking including subjective descriptions with overlays of cultural beliefs. Modern transcultural psychiatry interprets some epidemiological and clinical aspects of major mental disorders (such as schizophrenia and depression) in a different light.

Psychiatric patients of non-western origin leave treatment against the advice of their clinicians far more often than do their western counterparts. It is vital to build a trusting relationship with the patient, make a diagnosis and treatment plan and carry out treatment that is acceptable and meaningful to the patient. It may be argued that one of the challenges to achieve this may be the cultural gap that may exist between the psychiatrist and the patient.

It is pertinent to understand the cultural context and the pathoplastic effect of culture on mental illness.

View and download the programme.

• The conference will take place online using Zoom.
• Participants will be able view a video of the speaker alongside any slides.
• Participants can also pose questions, where the programme allows, and some speakers may use polling or other interactive features. 
• All registered participants will have access to a recording for up to two months after the event. 

This event is taking place online via Zoom. To take part you will need: 

• Access to a reliable internet connection
• A PC, laptop, tablet or phone
• Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge browser or Zoom installed on your PC, laptop, tablet or phone 

To watch on demand you must register for the conference in advance.

• Once the conference has taken place live, you will receive links to watch the conference/ sessions on demand.
• To access the recordings you will be required to enter your name, email address and a password.
• This is unique to you as a registered delegate so please do not share the recording links.  
• All registered participants will have access to a recording for up to two months after the event. 

Please read our terms and conditions before making your booking.