This book traces the historical postcolonial journey of four generations of Jamaican psychiatrists challenging the European colonial ‘civilizing mission’ of psychiatric care. It details the process of deinstitutionizing patients with chronic mental illness using psychohistoriographic cultural therapy, by engaging them in creating sociodrama and poetry writing, not only to express and reverse the stigma contributing to their marginalized status, but also to reconnect them to a centuries-long history of oppression. The author thereby demonstrates that psychological decolonization requires a seminal understanding of the complex mental inter-relationship between slaves and slaveowners. Further, it is shown how the model analyzes the antipodal dialectic history of descendants of Africans enslaved in the New World by brutish British Imperialists suffering from the European psychosis of white supremacy. Drawing together a detailed description of the sociopoem Madnificent Irations, with an examination of Jamaica’s political and social history, and the author’s personal experience, this compelling work marks an important contribution to decolonial literature. It will be of particular interest to students and scholars of postcolonial studies, critical race theory, the history of psychology and community psychology.

Psychohistoriography lays out a model of group therapy which challenges dominant Eurocentric approaches to psychology and mental health, and includes a step by step process which professionals can use with clients of Caribbean descent to explore issues around race, identity and culture.

This handbook presents a thorough examination of the intricate interplay of race, ethnicity, and culture in mental health – historical origins, subsequent transformations, and the discourses generated from past and present mental health and wellness practices. The text demonstrates how socio-cultural identities including race, gender, class, sexual orientation, disability, religion, and age intersect with clinical work in a range of settings. Case vignettes and recommendations for best practice help ground each in a clinical focus, guiding practitioners and educators to actively increase their understanding of non-Western and indigenous healing techniques, as well as their awareness of contemporary mental health theories as a product of Western culture with a particular historical and cultural perspective. The international contributors also discuss ways in which global mental health practices transcend racial, cultural, ethnic, linguistic, and political boundaries. The Routledge International Handbook of Race, Culture and Mental Health is an essential resource for students, researchers, and professionals alike as it addresses the complexity of mental health issues from a critical, global perspective.

Perspectives in Caribbean Psychology attempts to record the unique psychological character of those who live in the Caribbean and more broadly people of African-Caribbean heritage. It considers the impact of colonialism, the struggle for domination by various European and North American countries through history on individuals, and the unique psychological realities that have emerged from attempts to come to terms with the realities of Caribbean culture and experience. Contributors address prevalent issues of violence, mental illness, stigma, psychopathology and HIV/AIDS, and chronicle the adaptation, cultural retentions, resilience and migratory tenacity of the Caribbean people, both within their geographic communities and in the Diaspora. This book makes the case for a definitively Caribbean psychology with a range of chapters on psychological assessment, understanding and treatment modalities culled from a Caribbean experience. It will be an invaluable source of reference for anyone with an interest in multicultural psychology, as well as for social work and mental health professionals working with members of the Caribbean community.

Awarded second place in the 2017 AJN Book of the Year Awards in Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing. "I welcome, at long last, a book on global mental health targeted to nurses, the front-line health worker for billions of people around the world. The roles that nurses can, and should, play in mental health care are diverse and this book addresses both well-trod as well as emerging concerns across the continuum of care from promotion to prevention to treatment. Importantly, at the heart of this diversity is the foundation of compassion and care, the hallmark of the nursing profession." – Vikram Patel, Professor of International Mental Health and Wellcome Trust Principal Research Fellow in Clinical Science, Centre for Global Mental Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK Psychiatric disorders have consistently been identified as serious and significant global burdens of disease, yet meeting the needs of people in mental distress has not often been a priority in health care. This important reference work sets out the knowledge base for understanding the state of mental health care globally, and translating that into effective practice. The Handbook provides a historical and contemporary context of mental health care, identifies and discusses evidence-based standards of care and strategies for mental health promotion and explores the need to deliver care from interdisciplinary and community-based models, placing these imperatives within a human rights and empowerment framework. It is made up of four core sections which look at: Key and emerging issues that affect global mental health practice and research, including the social context of health; Evidence-based health promotion strategies for major areas of practice internationally; A range of country studies, reflecting different problems and approaches to mental health and mental health care internationally; and What constitutes empowering practice. The only comprehensive work looking at global perspectives on mental health nursing, this is an invaluable reference for all students, academics and professionals involved in mental health research with an interest in global or cross-cultural issues.

The Caribbean and Oceania are understudied areas from a psychological perspective, and this book is designed to fill that knowledge gap. In addition to diverse, rich cultural traditions and abundant economic opportunity for some, these regions also reflect the challenges of modernity, including crime, poverty, ethnic tensions, adaptations to climate change, and disparities in health, education, and access to care. With contributions from noted psychologists in the Caribbean and Oceania, as well as experts from around the globe, this book provides nuanced examination of significant psychological issues in nations such as Fiji, Guyana, Belize, Haiti, Jamaica, and more. Psychologists, psychiatrists, and other mental health professionals with an interest in this part of the world, will find this volume a rich resource, as will those generally interested in the relationship between culture and psychology. This book takes you on an outstanding journey of what is occurring in cultural psychology in the 21st century. It addresses the abundance of each nation through a transformational lens of current practices in psychology in Oceania and the Caribbean. I would absolutely recommend it to anyone interested in sailing the high seas connecting the present with the endless possibilities of those who dare to journey into the waters of a divine future.”- Florence Denmark, Past-President, American Psychological Association "Chock full of expert knowledge and insights, Psychology in Oceania and the Caribbean is an indispensable resource for psychologists. A must-read that will expand your understanding of life in these regions and beyond! “- Pamela A. Hays, PhD, Author of Addressing Cultural Complexities in Practice "This is a breath-taking book in its coverage of the uniquely endowed psychology worlds of Oceania and the Caribbean. Now that Dr. Rich, Dr. Ramkumar, and colleagues have produced this awesome book volume on the cultural psychology of the rim water nations, I have a palpable sense of relief from their having addressed a huge gap in cultural psychology scholarship. This volume opens hitherto undreamed of opportunities for further studies on cultural practices in psychology in Oceania and the Caribbean!”- Elias Mpofu, PhD, DE.D, CRC, MAPS, Professor of Health Sciences at the University of North Texas, Honorary Professor of Health Sciences at the University of Sydney and Executive Board member of the Australian Psychological Society’s Rehabilitation Psychology Interest Group "This book represents a vital exploration into the purpose and practice of Psychology in island nations. It is a welcome compilation of academic writings from sociocultural perspectives within Oceania and the Caribbean and serves as a landmark account of the unique forces shaping the development and evolution of Psychology in these states." - Gerard Hutchinson MD, Professor of Psychiatry, University of the West Indies, St Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago

This handbook incisively explores challenges and opportunities that exist in efforts aimed at addressing inequities in mental health provision across the globe. Drawing on various disciplines across the humanities, psychology, and social sciences it charts the emergence of Global Mental Health as a field of study. It critically reflects on efforts and interventions being made to globalize mental health policies, and discusses key themes relevant for understanding and supporting the mental health needs of people living in diverse socio-economical and cultural environments. Over three rich sections, the handbook critically engages with Global Mental Health discourses. To help guide future efforts to support mental health and wellbeing in different parts of the world, the third section of the handbook consists of case studies of innovative mental health policy and practice, which are presented from a variety of different perspectives. This seminal handbook will appeal to a transnational community of post-graduate students, academics and practitioners, from global health to transcultural psychiatry and medical anthropology. It will be also of interest to researchers and clinical practitioners, policy makers and non-governmental organisations involved in cross-cultural mental health work.