About the Division of Philosophy and Ethics of Mental Health

Vision

To develope academic capacity in the interdisciplinary area of Philosophy and Mental Health with a view to building on international developments in the field, contributing to the development of person-centred mental health and responding to the diversity of individual and cultural needs and interests of mental health care users, communities, psychiatrists, other mental health care workers, and philosophers.

Mission

Development of training and teaching capacity

To develop and maintain dynamic, sustainable, and practically relevant training programmes in Philosophy and Mental Health, which are person-centred and relevant to the needs of Africa and South Africa
To build intellectual and practical skills capacity in philosophy and mental health among the diverse people of Africa and South Africa
To enhance teaching and learning opportunities and research studentships

Development of research capacity

To undertake and advance rigorous conceptual and empirical research in philosophy and mental health
To enhance capability in conceptual and empirical research in mental health
To build logistical capacity for substantial, high quality conceptual and empirical research in mental health
To help build excellence in mental health practice through philosophical research on the concepts guiding mental health practice
To advance philosophical theory by making the phenomena of psychiatry more accessible to philosophers
To enhance and facilitate collaborative learning through exchange of ideas, experience, knowledge and skills relevant to mental health practice and philosophy
To facilitate participation in national and international developments, publications, conferences, organisations and events that are related to philosophy and mental health

Influence mental health practice, services, policies & education

To enhance the effectiveness of psychiatrists and other mental health care workers as practitioners, teachers, and researchers by illuminating the conceptual and philosophical issues embedded in these activities.
To influence mental health practice, service development, policies and education guided by an appreciation for individual differences and respect for diversity among health care users, societies, psychiatrists and other mental health care workers.
To advance responsible debates on contentious issues in mental health practices, services, policies and education in Africa and South Africa and on issues of international importance
To collaborate with international, African and South African tertiary institutions to advance the educational, research, and clinical interests in philosophy and psychiatry respectively and as an interdisciplinary subject.

Staff

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