Short Abstract:

While potentially further exacerbated by the COVID19 pandemic, globally in the last decades we have witnessed an increase in mental disorders and suicidal behaviours. People experiencing mental illnesses are often subjected to various human rights abuses paired with often unavailable or inadequate care. During this panel, the presenters will share the findings and footage from their current ESRC/GCRF-funded project “Together for Mental Health: Using collaborative visual research methods to understand experiences of mental illness, coercion and restraint in Ghana and Indonesia”.

Long Abstract:

While potentially further exacerbated by the COVID19 pandemic, globally in the last decades we have witnessed an increase in mental disorders and suicidal behaviours. People experiencing mental illnesses are often subjected to various human rights abuses paired with often unavailable or inadequate care.

During this panel, the presenters will share the findings and footage from their current ESRC/GCRF-funded project “Together for Mental Health: Using collaborative visual research methods to understand experiences of mental illness, coercion and restraint in Ghana and Indonesia”. This project used ethnographic film and participatory visual methods to explore attempts by mental health workers to establish collaborations with faith-based and traditional healers to prevent the use of coercion and provide care for persons affected by mental illness. The film/fieldwork took place in 3 field sites in Ghana and 5 in Indonesia over 8-10 weeks and involved mental health workers (8 Ghana; 20 Indonesia), Islamic, Christian, Hindu and indigenous healers (6 Ghana; 12 Indonesia), family caregivers (11 Ghana; 16 Indonesia), and persons with lived experience of mental health conditions (10 Ghana; 28 Indonesia). Film footage was transcribed verbatim and translated into English. Data (fieldnotes, film footage, transcripts) were coded thematically to identify the diverse ways in which collaboration was practiced.

The panel presenters will reflect on the use of visual methodologies to explore these sensitive and often misrepresented issues as well as share key lessons learnt about what facilitates successful collaboration between healers and mental health workers in Low and Middle Income contexts.

Presenters:

- Assoc Prof Erminia Colucci, Middlesex University London (Chair)

- Dr Ursula Read, King’s College London

- Dr Diana Setiyawati, University of Gadjah Mada

- Dr Ade Prastyani, University of Gadjah Mada,

- Dr Lily Kpobi, University of Ghana