Decolonizing Global Mental Health: The Psychiatrization of the Majority World PDF
Preview Decolonizing Global Mental Health: The Psychiatrization of the Majority World
Decolonizing Global Mental Health Decolonizing Global Mental Health is a book that maps a strange irony. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Movement for Global Mental Health are calling to ‘scale up’ access to psychological and psychiatric treatments globally, particularly within the global South. Simultaneously, in the global North, psychiatry and its often chemical treatments are coming under increased criticism (from both those who take the medication and those in the position to prescribe it). The book argues that it is imperative to explore what counts as evidence within Global Mental Health, and seeks to de-familiarize current ‘Western’ conceptions of psychology and psychiatry using postcolonial theory. It leads us to wonder whether we should call for equality in global access to psychiatry, whether everyone should have the right to a psychotropic citizenship and whether mental health can, or should, be global. As such, it is ideal reading for undergraduate and postgraduate students, as well as researchers in the fi elds of critical psychology and psychiatry, social and health psychology, cultural studies, public health and social work. China Mills is a researcher at the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI) at the University of Oxford. Her research interests span interdisciplinary approaches to exploring the interconnections between Global Mental Health, psychiatry, the pharmaceutical industry and colonialism. Concepts for Critical Psychology: Disciplinary Boundaries Re-thought Series editor: Ian Parker Developments inside psychology that question the history of the discipline and the way it functions in society have led many psychologists to look outside the discipline for new ideas. This series draws on cutting-edge critiques from just outside psychology in order to complement and question critical arguments emerging inside. The authors provide new perspectives on subjectivity from disciplinary debates and cultural phenomena adjacent to traditional studies of the individual. The books in the series are useful for advanced-level undergraduate and postgraduate students, researchers and lecturers in psychology and other related disciplines such as cultural studies, geography, literary theory, philosophy, psychotherapy, social work and sociology. Published Titles: Surviving Identity Vulnerability and the psychology of recognition Kenneth McLaughlin Psychologisation in Times of Globalisation Jan De Vos Social Identity in Question Construction, subjectivity and critique Parisa Dashtipour Cultural Ecstasies Drugs, gender and the social imaginary Ilana Mountian Forthcoming Titles: Ethics and Psychology Beyond codes of practice Calum Neill Self Research The intersection of therapy and research Ian Law This page intentionally left blank Decolonizing Global Mental Health The psychiatrization of the majority world China Mills First published 2014 by Routledge 27 Church Road, Hove, East Sussex BN3 2FA and by Routledge 711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017 Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business © 2014 China Mills The right of China Mills to be identifi ed as author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers. Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks, and are used only for identifi cation and explanation without intent to infringe. British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library. Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data Mills, China. Decolonizing global mental health : the psychiatrization of the majority world / China Mills. pages cm. – (Concepts for critical psychology) 1. Mental health policy. 2. Psychiatry, Transcultural. 3. Mental health services–Standards. 4. World health. I. Title. RA790.5.M56 2014 362.19689–dc23 2013022955 ISBN: 978-1-84872-159-3 (hbk) ISBN: 978-1-84872-160-9 (pbk) ISBN: 978-0-203-79675-7 (ebk) Typeset in Times New Roman by Cenveo Publisher Services This book is dedicated to the memories of Marion and Arthur – my Grandparents – for stories and butterfl y buns, and well kept secrets – for everything. It is also a warning. To those not (yet) psychiatrized – beware. This page intentionally left blank Contents Preface xi Acknowledgements xiii Introduction De-familiarizing Global Mental Health: A methodology of encounters 1 1 Making mental health a reality for all 17 2 ‘Harvesting despair’ – Suicide notes to the state and psychotropics in the post 35 3 Educating, marketing, mongering 51 4 The turn, the look: Interpellating the mad colonial subject 72 5 ‘Necessary evils’: When torture is treatment and violence is normal 86 6 Sly normality: Between quiescence and revolt 108 7 Decolonizing Global Mental Health 122 Bibliography 152 Index 171
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