- Global Mental Health

Catalog description

Examination of global mental health from an anthropological perspective. Students study medical anthropology theories that interconnect biological, social, and cultural aspects of mental illness, particularly among vulnerable populations. Course materials focus on common mental disorders, including depression, anxiety disorders, trauma-related disorders, and addiction. Students analyze ethnographic case studies of mental health experiences and treatment in diverse social contexts, such as displacement (of refugees and migrants), water insecurity, disaster recovery, and military conflict. Course discussions foster understanding of traditional versus biomedical beliefs about mental illness, intersections of mind and body, and access to health care. The course also considers how community-based and humanitarian interventions aim to improve mental health and advance global health equity.