Call for papers for the 1st “Mental illness and health in art, literature and history” Conference, 7 – 8 August 2021

Keynote Speaker:   TBA

Abstract Due Date: Tuesday 6 July 2021

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This conference brings together academics, researchers, psychologists, counsellors and humanists from a wide variety of fields, for a collaborative, multidisciplinary exploration of the many ways mental illness and health have been represented. Abstracts are peer-reviewed. Themes and issues for the conference include, but are not limited to:

 

Stream A          Depression

History, literature and the arts and humanities record many varieties of human experiences of and responses to depression. We welcome explorations of how this form of suffering has been represented, across literature, media and the arts, global cultures and identities. What are the risk factors, causes, processes, symptoms, sensitivities, dysfunctions and co-morbidities? What are its precursors and consequences? How can it be alleviated, helped, lifted or “cured”? How has it been depicted, represented, explored and understood?

 

Stream B          Suicide

Among the most alarming of mental health disorders is suicide, a topic often so difficult it is culturally taboo. Yet history, literature, media and the arts have acknowledged and explored this form of human despair. We welcome papers exploring any aspect or element of this difficult topic, across literature, media and the arts, global cultures and identities. What are the risk factors, causes, processes, symptoms, sensitivities, dysfunctions and co-morbidities? What are its precursors and consequences? How can it be alleviated, helped, lifted or “cured”? How has it been depicted, represented, explored and understood?

 

Stream C          Bullying

Bullying has been recorded in literature, the media and the arts, and across global cultures and identities. We welcome explorations of this form of suffering, and the range of methods to threaten, abuse, humiliate, harm, dominate and intimidate, as well as its social and individual complexities. What forms and patterns has it taken? What justifications have been given? How has it been depicted, represented, explored and understood? How can it be stopped?

 

Stream D          Data analytics and mental health

In order to explore these issues in their public contexts, we are soliciting research cooperation from academics and researchers, psychologists, people working in education and pastoral care, and others. These papers use data from structured interview questions, and evaluate this data with content analysis software. Conference participants interested in cooperating with this effort will publish papers in a journal special issue with HEDRA advisory board members.  If you are interested in this, please click here.

 

The conference welcomes abstracts from academics and researchers working in humanities, psychology, public health, social sciences and education, as well as in interdisciplinary and interprofessional fields, and others. Participants will be able to watch a plenary session, and participate in a live-stream roundtable, and a conference roundtable discussions.

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